Local leaders respond to town centre knife attack

Community leaders have voiced their concerns following a knife attack in Newtown town centre on Friday evening, which left an 18-year-old in hospital and saw a 16-year-old arrested.

Mayor of Newtown, Cllr Pete Lewington, expressed his shock at the incident and urged the community to reflect on the importance of standing against violence.

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"These incidents are things that I never expected to see in our town, and we need to understand why they happened and determine what we need to do to stop them happening again," he said. "The impact of violence goes beyond the victim and extends to families and the wider community, so we must do all we can to stop this violence."

Reflecting on Newtown's past efforts to raise awareness about knife crime, Cllr Lewington added:

"We need to remember that in recent years Newtown hosted the 'Knife Angel' - a sculpture made from confiscated and surrendered knives - as part of its national anti-violence and anti-aggression tour, and we need to reinforce that message and stand together against violence."

He concluded by expressing gratitude to the emergency services:

"I want to record my thanks to both the ambulance service and Dyfed Powys Police for their swift and comprehensive response to these incidents. I know that our police work tirelessly to keep our residents safe and our communities secure, often placing themselves in situations of grave potential harm. As well as my thanks and admiration, they continue to have my full support."

Meanwhile, County Councillor for Newtown East, Joy Jones, also shared her concerns, particularly noting the recent rise in violent incidents.

"As County Councillor for Newtown East, I am deeply concerned by the two serious incidents that have recently taken place in our community," she said. "My thoughts are with the young man who was injured, and I hope for his swift recovery."

Cllr Jones urged residents to support the ongoing police investigation and emphasized the importance of community solidarity:

"The well-being of our residents is my highest priority, and I understand the concern and unease that these events may have caused. I urge everyone to cooperate with the ongoing investigations and to speak with the neighbourhood policing and prevention officers if they have any concerns or information.

"It is vital that we work together to create a safe and supportive environment for all. Together, we can make Newtown a safer place for everyone."

Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of an incident near The Cross in the town centre at approximately 8:25pm on Friday evening (7th March 2025). A police cordon was put in place between High Street and Shortbridge Street, and officers remain in place at Parkers Lane and Shortbridge Street most of Saturday.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody as investigations continue.