A man has been stabbed tonight in the Highfields area of the city. Picture by Leicester Media Online A Leicestershire police spokesperson said; Shortly before 5pm today (Wednesday 23 March) police were called to Abingdon Road in the Highfields area of Leicester by the East Midlands Ambulance Service. Officers attended and found a man had been stabbed in the leg. He has been taken to hospital to be treated for injuries that are not life-threatening or life-changing. Officers remain in the area carrying out further enquiries at this time. No arrests have been made.

Recently the force has seen an increase in the reporting of fraud offences where Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) codes have been obtained in order to gain access to secure accounts. 2FA can take the form of something you know, like a password or PIN; something you have, like your phone; or something you are, like a fingerprint. Typically, it involves sending a code to a registered mobile device after a user has entered their username and password into a website. It’s mainly used by social media organisations and banks to ensure user’s details are kept secure and only they can gain access to their accounts. In the last two weeks 14 reports have been received where people have been contacted by individuals online who they believed were family or friends and asked to share their 2FA code. It is later established that the accounts were compromised as the victim genuinely believed they shared the 2FA codes with someone they know. The simple advice is never share your 2FA code with anyone ! If you believe you have been the victim of this fraud contact Action Fraud www.actionfraud.police.uk to report the incident. Leicestershire Police News

Lord Lieutenant to host Queen's Platinum Jubilee event at Beaumanor Hall. There’s still time for county and city residents celebrating their 70th birthday this year to receive a special invite to a celebratory event as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Michael Kapur, the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, will be hosting the ’70 at 70’ garden party on Tuesday, 31 May at Beaumanor Hall, Woodhouse near Loughborough. Numbers are limited - there are only 70 invitations – and nominations can be submitted by individuals themselves, family, friends or by someone in the community as set out in the criteria below. The closing date of Friday, 1 April is fast approaching. The invitations will go out to individuals who live in Leicester city or in the county and who were born in 1952, the same year as Her Majesty the Queen’s accession to the throne. "We’ve received many nominations so far, and it's been truly inspiring to read the stories behind those nominations. The closing date to submit your nominations is fast approaching, so now is the time to get them in" Michael Kapur, Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire To make a nomination visit http://www.leicester.gov.uk/platinum-jubilee For support in completing a nomination, contact the Leicestershire Lieutenancy by emailing lieutenancyoffice@leics.gov.uk. Invitations will be sent out in April 2022.

Plans for a new skatepark facility near Abbey Park have been announced. Leicester City Council has revealed proposals to create the new skateboarding site on land it owns as part of the sports facilities at Abbey Meadows, off Abbey Lane. The area of land is currently leased by the city council to Leicester Hockey Club, and is next to their pitch. Negotiations are underway with the hockey club to release the land for the skatepark back to the city council so it can be used to extend the sports and leisure facilities at the site. Site feasibility works have been done and preliminary designs for the skatepark are now being drawn up, with £375,000 being approved for the scheme under the city council’s People and Neighbourhoods Policy Provision. Engagement work is also being carried out with skatepark users, and staff from the council’s parks and sports services to ensure the proposed development meets local needs and is a valuable addition to the city’s existing sports facilities. Planning permission would also need to be secured before work could progress. Leicester City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “St Margaret’s Pastures is home to numerous well-used sports pitches and other facilities, and it makes sense to use this part of the site to expand the range of activities on offer. “We’ve carried out some early site works and the results have been very positive, so the next step will involve more detailed skatepark designs which would make the most of the site. “From the feasibility work we’ve done earlier this year the site looks very suitable for this kind of development, although ultimately it depends on us getting planning permission for it to ahead.” The site is immediately north of the Leicester Hockey Club grounds, and is bordered by the River Soar, a section of the A6 and Abbey Park itself. It is easily accessible by foot, bike or skateboard and is near to the car parking and toilets. Subject to planning approval, the agreement of terms for the release of the land from the hockey club and other preparatory work, construction could begin in autumn 2022. Currently there are city council skateparks at Humberstone Park, Victoria Park, Braunstone Park and Western Park. Leicester deputy city mayor for culture, leisure and sport, Cllr Piara Singh Clair, added: “We are very keen that the skatepark proposed for this site fits in well with the surrounding sports facilities, those at the hockey club and the neighbouring park itself. “I’ll be excited to see the designs as the plans progress further.”

A Historic road bridge on a busy route in Leicester is set to close to through traffic until early 2023 while essential maintenance and repair works are carried out. The Grade-II listed Abbey Corner Bridge, which spans the River Soar on Abbey Park Road, will close to all traffic from Thursday 31 March. A detailed survey of the historic bridge, which dates back to 1878, has found evidence of corrosion in the cast iron structure and other issues which require extensive maintenance to ensure that the bridge can continue to be used safely by heavy traffic. Work to repair and strengthen the bridge is expected to take around 45 weeks to complete and will require the closure of Abbey Park Road to all through traffic. A well-signed short diversion route will be in place for the duration of the works. This will be via Abbey Lane, St Margaret’s Way, Burleys Way and Belgrave Gate, in both directions. Bus services will also be diverted. Motorists are advised to expect delays on the diversion route at busy times. Access will be maintained for residents and businesses on Abbey Park Road, and for people visiting Abbey Park, during the works. All on street parking will suspended on Abbey Park Road for the duration of the works. However, Abbey Park car park will remain open. Bridge maintenance and repairs have been programmed to take place during a major £7.5million revamp of Abbey Park Road. This will help avoid the need for further disruptive closures of the bridge and road for the foreseeable future. As part of the repairs to Abbey Corner Bridge, the existing cast iron balustrade panels will be removed for full restoration, and the bridge parapet – or barrier – will be raised by around 30cm to improve safety. Damaged masonry will be repaired or replaced, and the structure will be completely re-waterproofed. Improvement work will also be carried out including the installation of a new 3.5metre-wide bike-friendly footbridge which will run alongside the Abbey Corner Bridge. This is due to be installed and open to pedestrians and cyclists by May 2022. Martin Fletcher, Leicester City Council director of highways, said: “The Abbey Corner Bridge is a critical part of Leicester’s road network and one of just a few major river crossings in the city. It’s a historic bridge dating back almost 150 years and that means it's getting old and needs maintenance. “Trial holes and surveys have identified a number of issues with the bridge that we need to address as a priority, otherwise we may risk having to impose traffic weight restrictions on the bridge in years to come. “We have an opportunity to carry out these works as part of the major revamp of Abbey Park Road and by doing so, we can avoid a worse problem in the coming years and ensure this historic bridge remains fit for purpose for generations to come. “We will have a short, well-signed diversion in place and will do all we can to help minimise the inevitable disruption that these essential works will cause.” The £7.5million revamp of Abbey Park Road – which will also see new bus lanes introduced and footpaths improved to create a safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists – is supported by the Transforming Cities Fund as part of an ambitious programme of investment in sustainable transport across the city. New bus lanes running in both directions along the road will give more priority to public transport in a bid to improve journey times and encourage more people to use the bus. To create space for the new bus lanes, general traffic will be reduced to one lane in either direction and on-street parking will be removed between Abbey Corner Bridge and Belgrave Circle. The scheme has been carefully modelled and designed to ensure that traffic capacity will be maintained, helping to avoid delays and congestion. Footpaths will be widened to provide safe space for pedestrians and cyclists and two new road crossings will be created. The new 3.5metre wide footbridge will provide a striking centrepiece to the scheme and help ensure that there is enough space for all road users to travel along the busy route safely and efficiently. A small area of car parking immediately in front of the main gates into Abbey Park will be removed, and the area revamped to create a more welcoming approach into the award-winning, historic park. A new e-bike docking station will also be installed to the west of the River Soar as part of electric bike hire scheme launched earlier this year by the city council in partnership with Santander. The council also intends to carry out road resurfacing as part of the scheme. Deputy City Mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transport, said: “The ambitious revamp of Abbey Park Road will help change the way that people think about travelling on this busy route. “The historic road bridge is in need of essential maintenance but also presents a daunting prospect for cyclists at busy times. The introduction of a new bike-friendly footbridge alongside the existing bridge will make this a much more appealing and safer route for all road users. “Schemes like this don’t come cheaply or without disruption. However, it is absolutely vital that we continue to invest in helping people to make the shift to cleaner, greener, healthier and cheaper modes of travelling around Leicester, not least because traffic is responsible for around a quarter of the city’s carbon emissions.” The Transforming Cities Fund is a major £80million citywide programme of investment in sustainable transport, backed by £40million of Government cash from the Department for Transport. The ambitious package of works will focus on major sustainable transport improvements to provide attractive choices for people to get to work, education, shops and other local facilities to help support the city’s growth and deliver on the council’s climate emergency, air quality and health living commitments. The programme includes the development of new bus priority corridors linking the city centre to local neighbourhoods and suburbs along with the continued development of a network of high-quality cycling and walking routes throughout the city, building on the success of the Connecting Leicester programme.

Ahead of the seventh anniversary of the death of a Leicester man, detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) are making a renewed appeal for public help. On Wednesday 25 March 2015, 42-year-old Mark Cookson was found dead at his home address in Leicester Road. A port-mortem examination found that he had suffered a fractured skull, which in turn had led to a bleed on his brain. An investigation – led by EMSOU – was launched. Officers identified that Mr Cookson may have been involved in an altercation in Hillcrest Road, close to the junction of Welford Road, three days beforehand – on Sunday 22 March. That day was the day King Richard III was laid in repose at Leicester Cathedral. In March 2018 – three years after the incident – a renewed appeal for information was made. This included placing posters in the area of Leicester Road and Hillcrest Road and direct appeals for information on the nozzles of petrol pumps across Leicester. Six calls were received, while information was also provided via social media. Unfortunately, further enquiries did not identify any new evidence and no arrests were made. Today (Tuesday 22 March) an appeal is being made again. Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs, from the EMSOU major crime team, said: “It’s coming up to seven years since Mark’s death and both police and his family still want to know what happened. Without a shadow of doubt, I believe there are people who know. “My message is a simple one – it’s never too late to come forward with information. If you know something, then please come forward. We owe it to Mark’s family to find out how he died and bring anyone responsible for his death to justice.” You can pass on information by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ and quoting “Operation Deluxe”. Alternatively call 101.

Initial ideas for a potential revamp of a popular shopping street in Leicester’s Clarendon Park area have been outlined by the city council. The city council is considering a range of possible improvements to Queen’s Road as part of a citywide programme of investment to help the city and local businesses recover from nearly two years of disruption from the pandemic. At Queens Road, the city council aims to create a more attractive shopping environment, with more space for outdoor café areas and wider, safer pavements for pedestrians. Initial ideas could see changes to some side road junctions – including potentially removing the junctions at Montague Road and Cecilia Road – to create more pedestrian space and cut the amount of traffic turning into Queens Road, helping to make the busy shopping street safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Pavements could be widened at key points to make more space for outdoor café-style seating areas to support businesses, while ensuring that adequate parking space is maintained for shoppers and visitors and loading bays are available for businesses. This could include widening pavements outside Barceloneta and Friends Tandoori – between Howard Road and Cecilia Road – and filling in the existing bus bay alongside the shopping area between Montague Road and Clarendon Park Road to create more space. The proposals will not impact the number of limited-time waiting bays on Queens Road. Improvements to make the route safer and more appealing to cyclist are also being considered, along the introduction of a docking bay on Queens Road for the new Santander Cycles Leicester e-bike hire scheme. Traffic calming measures, such as raised crossings, on Queens Road are also being considered to encourage motorists to cut their speed and improve road safety. Earlier this year, the city council set aside £11.3million of capital funding for a number of road and transport schemes as part of its budget for 2022/23. This includes the regeneration of key shopping streets such as Queens Road. The initial ideas for improvements to Queens Road have been developed closely with ward councillors and discussions are ongoing. Assistant city mayor and Castle ward councillor Danny Myers said: “Queens Road is at the heart of the community in Clarendon Park. It’s a space that is held dear. Events like our Summer and Christmas fairs attract thousands and it is a place that enjoyed throughout the day and evening, all year round. “Creating a high quality-space that reflects this popularity is a great opportunity. It’d be really interesting to see what people think of these proposals and other ideas they may have for Queens Rd too.” Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transport, added: “It’s really important that we continue to invest in streets like Queens Road to enhance the environment, make them more people-friendly and help ensure their local businesses continue to thrive. “Although these initial ideas are in the very early stages, it’s clear that we have a real opportunity to invest in Queens Road and make it an even more attractive place for residents, local business and visitors. “These early thoughts have already been shared at a meeting of Friends of Clarendon Park and we’re very keen for the local community to be an integral part of the creative process as this scheme develops”. The city council expects to firm up proposals for Queens Road over the coming months, with a view to inviting feedback on final design plans from local residents and businesses this summer. Leicester City Council News

Operators will provide free onward train travel for Ukrainians on arrival in the UK. Train operators are working together to provide support to Ukrainian arrivals by offering free onward travel to their final destinations in Britain. The scheme will be live from Sunday 20th March 2022, and complements offers made by the European railway family to provide safe and free passage for Ukrainians. To make sure the scheme is as simple as possible, the Rail Delivery Group has worked across the industry and Government so that: Ukrainian arrivals who have entered the UK will be able to travel for free on the national rail network by showing their Ukrainian passport and a boarding pass or ticket showing arrival into the UK They will have 48 hours from arrival in the UK to complete their journey; and The scheme applies to all train operators in Great Britain, and many bus and coach operators are also offering free onward travel to final destinations. Jac Starr, Chief Executive Officer at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We have all been shocked by the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine. As an industry we know this is the right thing to do, making sure families affected by this tragedy can be reunited as quickly as possible, and helping others get to safety. “Similar schemes have been launched on the continent so I am proud that we are standing alongside our European Rail family and doing what we can to help.” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “We are working tirelessly to help Ukrainians travelling to Britain fleeing conflict. “It is hugely welcome that the transport industry has come together to offer free rail, tram, bus and coach onward travel from any international port, airport or train station.   “The UK stands with the Ukrainian people and those fleeing Putin’s brutal invasion.”

Leicestershire Police is today saying thank you and farewell to Chief Constable Simon Cole who is retiring after 12 years in the leading role. Chief Constable Cole, who grew up in Leicestershire, is the current longest service chief constable in the UK after joining the force in 2010. Chief Constable Simon Cole He began his career back in 1988 with West Midlands Police working in various uniform and detective roles before joining Hampshire Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable in September 2003 leading to a promotion to Deputy Chief Constable in 2008. Over the past few weeks, the Chief Constable has been visiting officers and staff across force ahead of his retirement. In a farewell message to the force today, he said: “It has been my privilege and good fortune to lead such a talented, committed and caring team. Your work has meant I have had the honour of being Chief Constable of the place where I grew up for over a decade. I have loved it. I am impossibly grateful to you. As I have said before, your acts of bravery, duty and kindness have inspired me every day. He added: “In my time as Chief, the demands on us have grown, expectations of us have changed, and crime is more complex and challenging. Yet we have kept service to our communities at the centre of what we do. “Thank you again for your service. Thank you for all the professional and personal support you have given me as Chief. I know for certain you will extend that same care, commitment and counsel to my successor. “Please keep on keeping on…” In a statement made earlier this year, the Chief Constable spoke further about what the role has meant to him and thanked the local communities, partners and organisations he has worked with across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland during this time - UK’s longest-serving police chief to retire in Spring | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk) From next week, current Deputy Chief Constable Rob Nixon will serve as Acting Chief Constable of the force while the recruitment process takes place to appoint a new permanent Chief Constable. Deputy Chief Constable Nixon said: “It has been an honour for the force to have Simon as our leader across the past 12 years and I know I speak on behalf of the whole force, when I say he will be very much missed. “Thank you Simon - from myself personally and from the force - for your leadership, your guidance, your support and your service. We all wish you a very happy, well-deserved retirement.” Speaking about taking up the role of Acting Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable Nixon added: “I am very much looking forward to taking up the role and am proud to be leading our dedicated and talented force as we continue to serve our communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 24/7.”

Leicestershire Police has carried out 38 warrants, arrested 63 people and made safeguarding visits to 54 vulnerable people during a national week of action targeting county lines drug dealing. They also recovered cash, drugs, firearms and other weapons as part of County Lines Intensification Week from Monday 7 March to Sunday 13 March 2022. County Lines’ activity involves people from large urban areas travelling to smaller county towns to sell drugs, using dedicated mobile phone lines. They also exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store drugs and money, sometimes using coercion, intimidation and violence. They can also be forced to let drug dealers use their homes as a base for selling drugs in a form of exploitation known as ‘cuckooing’. County Lines Intensification Week highlights include; • 63 people arrested and the complete dismantling of three lines from Nottingham and Birmingham • 38 search warrants executed • Force-wide and local Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) operations across the weekthroughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland leading to 16 arrests and 10 vehicles recovered • Knife arch and passive drugs dog deployed to train stations in Leicester, Hinckley and Melton Mowbray in partnership with British Transport Police. • Seizure of more than £30,000 in cash • Seizure of two viable hand guns • Seizure of a variety of other weapons including machetes, knives, baseball bats, knuckle dusters and weighted chains. • Seizure of a large quantity of controlled drugs including heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, cannabis, cannabis edibles and synthetic cannabinoids. • 54 vulnerable children and adults identified and safeguarded • Extensive engagement with children, parents and professionals highlighting the danger of involvement in County Lines activity. Are You Listening?’ presentations given to 6026 children and young people and 367 professionals/parents and carers. Chief Superintendent Johnny Starbuck said; “Thanks to thisnational week of action, we have arrested some significant individuals, closed down three lines and taken a large quantity of drugs off our streets. “As well as enforcement activity, a major focus for us is protecting vulnerable people who are drawn into the world of drug dealing. Whether that’s young people who are forced to sell drugs on behalf of gangs, or those who are forced to let drug dealers use their homes as a base for selling drugs in a form of exploitation known as ‘cuckooing.’ They often don’t realise they are being criminally exploited but with the right support from us, and our partners, they can get the help theyneed and my thanks go to all the agencies who supported us this week and for their ongoing efforts throughout the year.” “This week has also given us a lot of intelligence and information about the people involved in county lines, and where they are operating, so they should expect a knock on the door in the near future.” Training workshops and inputs into schools The force’s Children and Young Persons Officer, Katie Hudson, and Substance Misuse Officer, James Edmondston, ran 17 county lines workshops throughout the week – nine on Microsoft Teams and eight in person. They spoke to 6026 pupils and 367 adult professionals/parents/carers who work with young people. The workshops based on the force’s film ‘Are you Listening?’ are designed to help adults spot the signs of criminal exploitation in young people and warn teenagers of the dangers of getting involved in county lines. Throughout March, Alter Ego Creative Solutions is deliveringa theatre production on county lines. They will present 40 sessions into 26 educational establishments reaching approximately 6948 secondary school students. Cathy Robinson, Vice Principal at Rawlins Academy in Quorn said: “We are excited to be working in partnership with Leicestershire Police and AlterEgo Creative Solutions to tackle this national issue at a local level in a creative way. Almost 500 pupils in our setting have benefitted from this production, and they are now more aware of the risks surrounding county lines. This event has excellently supplemented our existing PSHE curriculum. It is important not to shy away from safeguarding issues such as county lines, and to tackle them head on to ensure that our young people are safeguarded. The police and AlterEgo have been pivotal in raising the profile of this work, enabling the delivery of this important message in a way that is more relatable and memorable.” Where to go for help and advice Would you know how to spot the signs and where to go for help and support? To find out more about county lines visit: https://www.leics.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/cl/county-lines/ There is a new website specifically for young people to get help and advice on how to stay safe in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Making our community a safe place to live - LiveSafe Leicestershire Police News 18/03/22

Major schemes that make up more than £2 billion of private and public sector investment already made, or proposed in Leicester, can be seen in a new video. The video – which uses computer generated images to take the viewer on a fly-through of the city – is being used to promote development opportunities to potential investors. It highlights a wide range of regeneration schemes recently completed in Leicester, as well as some of those proposed or in the planning stage. Ongoing and completed projects referenced include the City Mayor’s Connecting Leicester scheme, which has seen the transformation of the city centre thanks to improved connectivity and high-quality public realm improvements. The regeneration of Leicester Waterside including the development of two new hotels, high- spec offices, the restoration of Grand Central Station and a new public square - carried out by Charles Street Buildings in partnership with the city council – is also shown. Other schemes featured are The University of Leicester’s development of Freemen’s Common and Leicester Space Park; Mattioli Woods’ office on New Walk Place and Aimrock Holding’s nearby Gresham aparthotel developments; the joint housing venture between Keepmoat Homes and the city council next to the Grand Union Canal; and the Leicester Tiger’s Brooklyn Hotel on Aylestone Road. Planned new schemes include the development of Leicester’s railway station and surrounding area, and new high quality manufacturing spaces and light industrial units at Pioneer Park and Blackbird Road. The proposed expansion of Leicester City Football Club’s King Power Stadium is also featured. Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “This video demonstrates very clearly the success of public and private sector partnerships in the city, and what can be achieved with a shared vision and aims. “It also shows the success Leicester and the council have had in attracting funding from a wide range of sources including the Government’s Levelling up Fund, and the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. “Economic growth in a city is vital for job creation and the prosperity of its residents. Leicester still has huge potential for further growth that others can be part of, and this will be an important tool to help us make the most of that potential.” The council’s inward investment team can be contacted at 0116 454 1220, by emailing enquiries@investinleicester.com, or visit the Invest in Leicester website. Leicester City Council News - Published on Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Detectives in Coalville are appealing for witnesses to a robbery in Coalville to make contact. At around 8.15am on Friday (11 March) the victim – a man in his 70s – was withdrawing cash from an ATM at the junction of Belvoir Road and Jackson Street. However, he was pushed over by a man – believed to be aged between 25 and 30 – who took a large quantity of cash and ran off down Belvoir Road. Although the victim was not injured, he was shaken up by what happened. Detective Constable Steve Williams, the investigating officer, said: “This happened at the junction of two busy roads at a time when people will have been going to work or school. Therefore I’m sure there will have been people who saw what happened. “If you witnessed anything, then please get in touch. I’d also like to speak to anyone driving in the area with a dashcam in their vehicle or who has CCTV footage of the area. Any information you can provide, no matter how insignificant you think it is, could help.” You can pass on information by visiting and quoting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ reference 22*141570. Alternatively call 101.