Linacre Road: Shock after boy, 14, is stabbed in Thornhill

The teenager was rushed to hospital following being stabbed in the back in Linacre Road, Thornhill, shortly after 7pm on Sunday.

Residents were left on Monday struggling to comprehend what had happened the night before,

A 35-year-old man who lives on Linacre Road, and who did not want to be named, told the Echo: “Kids used to be able to play outside but you’re fearful of letting them go outside now.

"My partner’s child is 15, so he’s only a year older than the poor boy who was stabbed.

“I didn’t see anything, but my partner came out of the flat last night to put some rubbish in the bin and there were police everywhere.

“They parked opposite the flat and set up a cordon between here and the next flat along.

"They spoke quite strongly to my partner as she came out the door, telling her to get back inside straight away, which I think startled her a little bit.

“This place is quite lawless, it’s not the first time something has happened in the area. I know police have extra stop and search powers, but that’s only for 24 hours.

READ MORE: Boy, 14, stabbed in back in Thornhill

“There was a stabbing a while ago on Burgoyne Road and the police had the same stop and search powers then, but it was only for a short time. What good did it do?”

A 20-year-old man from Thornhill, who did not want to be named, added: “I noticed last night there were two police cars near the Co-op around the corner.

"They seemed to be patrolling the area as they kept driving up and down the road.”

Following the incident, Hampshire police put in extra stop and search powers for 24 hours across Thornhill and Sholing. This was due to be in place until 8.40pm on Monday.

The additional powers give police officers the ability to stop and search anyone in a designated area.

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said: “Officers will be carrying out patrols across the local area and will be able to stop and search anyone while the powers are in use.”