Bedfordshire’s police and crime commissioner has described two murders in Luton in less than a month as “a blip”, after police announced a 15 per cent drop in crime.
On Thursday night, 19-year-old Ryan Burke died after being stabbed outside his home in Milliners Way, off Biscot Road. Mark Hannell, 19, of Thames Court, Trent Road, Luton, has been charged with his murder.
It follows the killing on April 9 of Paul Foster, who was shot outside a house in Brunel Road, Lewsey Farm.
On Saturday Milliners Way residents told the Luton News the area was blighted by crime.
“There are always fights,” said one woman, who wanted to remain anonymous. “There always seem to be problems around here but the police don’t tell us what’s going on.
“In light of what’s happened I’m going to be moving. It’s not the first serious incident we’ve had here and it won’t be the last.”
A man, who also did not want to give his name, said he had only moved into the flats a fortnight ago.
“There was unbelievable screaming, then I heard someone shout, ‘He’s been stabbed.’
“I moved here from Lewsey Farm because I thought it wouldn’t be as bad. I wish I hadn’t moved here now.”
A nationwide ‘peace index’ published last week showed there were 4,830 violent crimes recorded in Luton in 2012, compared to the UK average of 3000.
But police and crime commissioner Olly Martins insisted the town was a safe place to live.
“I’m not surprised that these events have heightened people’s fear of crime. You worry about the reputation it gives the town as most people live their day to day lives safely.
“This is a blip and it’s the job of the police to make sure it’s a blip.”
Mr Martins said more trust needed to be built between the police and communities in Luton.
“The force needs to be better at communicating with people,” he said. “And communities need to accept that hand of friendship.”
A Beds Police spokesman said most people did work with the police, and that the force was working to improve relationships with “pockets of people” who found it difficult to communicate with officers.