Latest news with #AjitAtwal
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Calls to strengthen toothless 'no-booze' policy on St Peter's Street in Derby
Leading Derby councillors are calling for St Peter's Street in the city centre to be designated an alcohol-free zone. A walkabout by Lib Dem group leader Councillor Ajit Atwal and Councillor Steve Hassall, Conservative group leader, on a recent Friday morning saw several people drinking on benches opposite St Peter's Church. Additionally, a large number of delivery riders with bikes were occupying benches opposite McDonald's and there was a constant flow of bikes being ridden fast up and down the street. Initially, Cllr Atwal and Cllr Hassall were concerned that no one in authority was in St Peter's Street - no police, public protection officers or St Peter's Quarter rangers. Cllr Hassall said: "There is nowhere for members of the public to sit because the seating is occupied by people such as drinkers and delivery drivers and there is no one around to move anyone on. The area should be designated an alcohol-free zone and maybe give people more reassurance that there is an intention to police the area. READ MORE: Five more arrests after murder of Derby man Dale Martin READ MORE: Derby city centre street with 'sea of takeaways' dubbed unhealthiest in the UK "People drinking in the street throughout the day is not a good look for visitors to the city and needs to be stopped. Having said that, St Peter's Street is nothing more than a thoroughfare. There is nothing for people to come here for - just a lot of vape and barber shops, together with places to eat. It's not a shopping area any more." But a few minutes later, the pair were left scratching their heads when they spotted a sign high up on a lamppost outside Tesco Express which appeared to support the idea of an alcohol-free zone. It was public space protection order (PSPO) put up by the city council but on closer inspection it appeared only to prevent people drinking alcohol in a public space if they are "causing a nuisance or annoyance". The wording of condition one on the sign is: "No person shall consume alcohol in a public place (excluding licensed premises) in a manner which causes a nuisance or annoyance to other person in the locality". Condition three on the same sign says: "No person shall ingest, inhale, inject, smoke or otherwise use intoxicating substances in a public place, excluding alcohol, tobacco or prescription medicines. Intoxicating substances are substances with the capacity to stimulate or depress a person's central nervous system." And condition six states that "no person shall use a skateboard, scooter, or bicycle in a public place in a manner which causes a nuisance or annoyance to other persons in the locality". The three other conditions cover begging, defecating and urinating and loitering as an individual or as a group, in which case they can be asked to leave the area and not return for 24 hours. Mt Atwal said: "So what constitutes a nuisance, who and how is this going to be enforced, and why does this protection order seem to raise more questions than it answers? "We have people drinking alcohol from cans, men sitting around with face coverings on, bikes being driven fast up and down the street and people stopping the public to ask for money. We recently had a fatal stabbing at Lloyd's Bank and people are naturally worried about doing normal things like withdrawing money from cash machines in broad daylight. "There should be an active law enforcement presence and it needs to be made clearer whether or not people are allowed to drink alcohol or not. It should be zero tolerance on this and also on drug taking and dealing on this street. Something needs doing about it all - of course it's causing a nuisance if people are drinking in the streets or lounging around on public seats, or riding bikes. "But it needs someone to enforce this or at least clarify the rules and regulations so that they can take action - currently the PSPO has no power to stop these things happening unless there is an obvious problem or presumably someone complains if anyone is around." Derbyshire Live asked the council about the sign and the lack of patrols in the street. Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, and cabinet member for city centre, regeneration, strategy and policy, said: 'The previous Public Space Protection Order was introduced in January 2022 for a period of three years. A thorough process of evidence gathering, data analysis, and a public consultation is required for renewal. 'PSPOs can only be enforced by police and Public Protection Officers (PPOs). Our PPOs are on duty in the city centre daily but may sometimes be deployed to provide support elsewhere in the city. 'PSPOs are designed to be enforced only when there's an element of anti-social behaviour involved. When considering restrictions on street drinking, there needs to be a balance between tackling anti-social drinking and supporting our night-time economy and seasonal events, such as Christmas markets which would not be able to serve alcohol in a controlled setting under a blanket ban.'
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Restaurant owner named as victim of fatal stabbing at Lloyds bank in Derby as man held on suspicion of murder
The Lloyds Bank customer who was stabbed to death in a city centre branch has been named locally as restaurant owner Gurvinder Singh Johal. Mr Johal, known to friends as Danny, although his real name is Gurvinder Singh Johal, and he owns and runs the Hen and Chickens Bar and Grill restaurant in Shelton Lock. Police were called to Lloyd's Bank in St Peter's Street, Derby, at around 2.30pm on Tuesday afternoon and despite an air ambulance attending, the victim, in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His death has been called senseless' by close friend Councillor Ajit Atwal, leader of the Lib Dem group on Derby City Council, who knew him personally. He declined to give personal details because of causing further upset to the family but told DerbyshireLive the restauranteur was 'the most hard-working and devoted family man'. He added: 'It's a sad day for Derby. It makes no sense what has happened. Something must have gone terribly wrong for him to be killed in this way. 'He was a good businessman and nothing was ever too much trouble for him. He was humble, quiet and a kind guy and would always go above and beyond for everyone. 'His family are devastated and cannot understand what has happened. He was just getting on with his life - it's just senseless.' Two men, were arrested on Tuesday evening at a house of mutiple occupancy in the Normanton district, less than a mile from the bank, following the horrific attack. The victim, who police said was in his 30s, was using Lloyds's services on St Peters Street on Tuesday afternoon when he was violently assaulted. He was pronounced dead at the scene after the stabbing at around 2.35pm. A man in his 40s was this morning being held on suspicion of murder. Another man in his 30s was detained at the same time at the Normanton address on suspicion of assisting an offender. He also remains in custody. Derbyshire Police said they were treating this as an isolated incident and reassured the public that no one else was hurt. The victim has not been formally identified but his family has been made aware of his death. A large police cordon remained in the city centre today. An air ambulance was reported to have landed near the Derby Cathedral not long after the attack. Managers at the Lloyds bank told DerbyshireLive that they are 'deeply saddened by the incident at our Derby branch and our thoughts are with those affected'. 'We are supporting our colleagues during this difficult time and will co-operate closely with the police,' they said. The bank added that the attack was not related to an armed robbery. Detective Inspector Tony Owen, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, who is leading the investigation, said: 'We appreciate that this incident will have caused significant concern to the local community and we'd like to thank them for their patience and understanding. 'No-one else was hurt and while the investigation is at an early stage, at this time we are treating it as an isolated incident. 'Officers will be in the area for some time so we'd encourage anyone with any concerns to please speak to us. 'We'd also encourage anyone with any information on this incident to please contact us as a matter of urgency.' The cops asked anyone with information that could help the investigation to call 101, send a private message to the Derbyshire Constabulary Facebook page, or use their online contact form and reference 25000260624. They added that the public can also anonymously contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting their website. The force said in an earlier statement: 'A murder investigation has been launched after a man was stabbed to death in a city centre bank. 'The man, who was a customer, was assaulted inside the Lloyds bank in St Peter's Street at around 2.35pm today (6 May). 'The man, aged in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. While formal identification has not taken place, his family have been made aware. 'A significant police presence remains in the city centre and will do for some time to come. 'Anyone with any information that can assist is asked to contact the force using the 999-emergency number with reference 678 of today.'
The Sun
07-05-2025
- The Sun
Restaurant owner in his 30s stabbed to death inside Lloyds bank is pictured – as two men arrested
A RESTAURANT owner in his 30s who was horrifically stabbed to death inside a city centre bank has been pictured for the first time. Known to friends as Danny, the bank customer who tragically died has been named locally as Gurvinder Singh Joha. 3 3 He owns and runs the Hen and Chickens Bar and Grill restaurant in Derby. Danny tragically died at the scene in Lloyds bank in Derby, at around 2.35pm on Tuesday. A man in his 40s was arrested in Normanton on suspicion of murder. Another man, in his 30s, was arrested in the same property on suspicion of assisting an offender. Councillor Ajit Atwal, the leader of the Lib Dem group on Derby City Council and a close friend of Danny, called his death "senseless". He told DerbyshireLive: "It's a sad day for Derby. He was the most hard-working and devoted family man. "It makes no sense what has happened. Something must have gone terribly wrong for him to be killed in this way. "He was a good businessman and nothing was ever too much trouble for him. He was humble, quiet and a kind guy and would always go above and beyond for everyone." Locals told of their shock at the horror stabbing, taken aback that it happened "in broad daylight". Detective Inspector Tony Owen, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, is leading the investigation. He said on Tuesday: 'We appreciate that this incident will have caused significant concern to the local community and we'd like to thank them for their patience and understanding. 'No-one else was hurt and while the investigation is at an early stage, at this time we are treating it as an isolated incident. Officers will be in the area for some time so we'd encourage anyone with any concerns to please speak to us. "We'd also encourage anyone with any information on this incident to please contact us as a matter of urgency.' 3
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Derby stabbing: Witnesses heard 'screaming' as 'family man' knifed to death in Lloyds bank
A man, aged in his 30s, has tragically died after he was attacked inside Lloyds Bank in St Peter's Street, Derby, in the middle of the afternoon with two people arrested Two men have been arrested after a bank customer was stabbed to death in a city centre branch with witnesses hearing "screaming" and a shout of "it's a bank robbery". A man in his 30s was attacked inside Lloyds Bank in St Peter's Street, Derby, at around 2.35pm on Tuesday and died at the scene, Derbyshire Police said. Formal identification has not taken place, but police said his family have been made aware. A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder at a property in Western Road, in the Normanton of the city, at around 6pm, the force said. Did you see the incident at Lloyds Bank in Derby? Let us know at webnews@ A second man, in his 30s, was arrested at the same property on suspicion of assisting an offender and both men remain in custody. Police officers will remain in the city centre for some time. The victim in believed to be a dad of three. One nearby shopkeeper, who did not wish to be named, told DerbyshireLive this morning: " We know who the guy is, it's really sad, really sad. Yesterday we heard screaming and then heard someone shouting 'it's a bank robbery' because at that stage no-one knew it was a murder. Then the police arrived, there were lots of them who arrived really quickly. It's just so sad." Another passer-by said: "I saw it on Facebook last night and I couldn't believe it. A bloke in the bank being stabbed at 3pm in the afternoon? It's unheard of. Derby city centre is becoming a no go zone these days." While a woman said: "It's just so shocking. Inside a bank in broad daylight. Really awful. " Detective Inspector Tony Owen said: 'We appreciate that this incident will have caused significant concern to the local community and we'd like to thank them for their patience and understanding. No-one else was hurt and while the investigation is at an early stage, at this time we are treating it as an isolated incident.' Councillor Ajit Atwal, leader of the Lib Dems on Derby City Council, said that it is a "sad day for Derby". Mr Atwal, who knew the victim, said: "None of this makes any sense. Why a young hard working man should be killed like this -a family man. He was a business man and had worked hard to make his business a success. He had come to the city to do this." A Lloyds spokesperson: 'We are deeply saddened by the incident at our Derby branch and our thoughts are with those affected. We are supporting our colleagues during this difficult time and will co-operate closely with the police.' Anyone with information should contact the police quoting the reference 25000260624, or contact the independent charity CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
