Fears over youngsters carrying knives in Preston

Still from a video showing young thugs throwing a knife into the garden of a family in Deepdale.

The incident is just one of many in a catalogue of anti-social behaviour which a Deepdale dad says is making his family’s life a misery.

It comes as a city headteacher warns of a knife culture which he says is rife in Preston.

Simon Wilson, from Larches House School, which has a site in Deepdale, says children have been caught carrying knives in and out of school for personal protection.

Mr Wilson said: “Children are carrying knives because of the huge problem of gang-related behaviour in the city.

“It’s our single biggest worry and we’ve seen children coming on to school property to threaten each other and fight.”

And dad Paul, whose real name has been changed due to fears for his family’s safety, says the gang of youths repeatedly threw the knives at his garden fence as his wife and children played yards away.

And Paul says his young children are scared to walk home from school and even go to sleep because of the threats.

“Over the past two years we’ve been heavily targeted,” he said.

“These kids could end up killing someone if a knife was ever to make contact and it has had a huge negative effect on my children’s lives.

“We’ve been followed home and I don’t want the police coming to our house in case it means we’re under threat even more.

These gangs are scary, aggressive and are making our lives a misery.

“My wife is terrified and doesn’t like being left at home alone and the stress it has caused me has meant I had to leave my job with the ambulance service.”

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “We fully understand that anti-social behaviour is a priority for the public and therefore it is very much a priority for us.

“We would remind people they need to report all issues to police – the more we know the more we can do.

“The local council, the police and other community safety partner agencies, such as the fire service and social housing landlords, all have a responsibility to deal with anti-social behaviour and to help people who are suffering from it.

“If you are experiencing problems with anti-social behaviour, or have any concerns about it, or other community safety issues, you should contact either your local council or call the police on the non-emergency number 101.”