THE CITY Council has said it is educating city youths on the dangers of knife crime following a recent stabbing. 

A 19-year-old man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after an attack in Ascupart Street.

The incident on March 14 sparked horror among St Mary's ward residents who called for more support for young people across the city.

But the local authority has said it is working with Hampshire police to deliver education on knife crime in schools.

Youth worker Parveen Ishfaq, who is heavily involved in the St Mary's community, previously said "young people are very vulnerable". 

She stressed that youth services that were closed by the council need to return.

"They need somewhere to go to take them off the streets and to stay active. We have to educate young people," she added.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Councillor Spiros Vassiliou explained that the council has launched a community fund offering three grant funding opportunities to support community groups and organisations.

However, his comments come following similar incidents in the same area. 

In November last year a man in his 40s was rushed to hospital with stab wounds to his abdomen after an attack in Ascupart Street.

Just months before - in August - a 36-year-old man was hospitalised after a stabbing in St Mary Street.

Cllr Spiros said: "In October 2021, we launched a new community fund offering three grant funding opportunities to support community groups and organisations."

The cash is to support youth and diversionary activities and to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Furthermore, it aims to promote "safety and security in neighbourhoods and communities".

The council boss for communities added: "We hope it will help kickstart activities and community involvement to strengthen the network of community groups and youth service providers in the city. We want to support and enable our communities to deliver and expand upon positive activities which in turn, may help to combat and prevent anti-social behaviour and crime in the city.

“In addition, through our Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) funded by the Home Office to tackle serious violence including knife crime, we have been working with Hampshire Constabulary and partners to deliver educational workshops at schools, talking to students about knife crime and why carrying a knife is never the right choice.”