A stabbing in the heart of the city’s clubland has sparked further safety fears for the people who live and work there.
Police were called to St Vedast Street, just off Prince of Wales Road, to reports of a stabbing early yesterday morning.
The victim is believed to have minor injuries to his arm and was discharged from hospital the same day, however locals say that they feel unsafe in the area.
Sonali Tiwari works at Prince of Wales Road Express shop and said: "Of course I'm worried as it's very near to here.
"Sometimes I don't feel safe and wonder the effect it could have on the business too - whether it'll put people off coming here altogether.
"As we're open so late we have a guard here but with incidents like this happening so close it's a worry for staff and customers."
Martin Platten, who also works nearby, added: "The place is notorious and it's not the first time it's happened.
"What do you expect when the place is overrun with pubs, bars and betting shops.
"There are heightened emotions, fuelled by alcohol and all in one place."
The latest stabbing comes after a series of violent crimes in the road, which has become notorious for anti-social behaviour.
In March Karl Bamber received a 12-month suspended sentence after twice punching another man in the face and fracturing his eye socket following a row in a takeaway in the road.
Last year, Achilles Lawrence Gate'te was sentenced to seven and half years for an ultra-violent rampage through the clubland, which had left one victim having part of his skull removed to save his life.
In another incident a few years earlier, a doorman revealed he had taken to wearing a stab vest while working in the area after being stabbed tackling a teenager who had already attacked two other people.
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The spat of attacks in Prince of Wales Road prompted the police to highlight tackling drinking and alcohol-related crimes in the nightclub hotspot as one of its three key focuses in April.
But the latest stabbing had led to calls for more policing to tackle serious crime in the area.
Ben Price, leader of the Green Party group at county councillor, said: " It's important to remember that Norwich is one of the safest areas in the country.
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"However it seems like the late night economy in Prince of Wales has a disproportionate amount of serious crime occurring in it.
"There's not enough police resources and I'd invite the crime commissioner to meet with me and discuss how to provide adequate coverage here.
"It's also important that Norwich City Council looks at its decision to condense the late night economy into one area and the negative impact it can have on the city's image."
Both Norfolk Police and Norwich City Council have been contacted for comment.
PRINCE OF WALES ROAD REVAMP
In its heyday, Prince of Wales Road was the grand entrance to the city centre – giving visitors fresh off the train a view of the upmarket homes and businesses that lined the avenue.
More recently, however, it has become the heart of Norwich’s clubland district and notorious for violent crime.
Moves have been made to return the road to its former glory.
In 2018 the council revealed it was planning a multi-million pound revamp of the road, mainly to ease traffic flow.
Meanwhile, there are current plans for a major rejuvenation of the Nelson Hotel that will see that area completely transformed.
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