Public calls lead to man with knife in Peterborough referred for mental health treatment

On March 3, police received a call at about 3.50pm in the afternoon stating there was a man in Glenton Street, Eastgate, with a knife.

Firearms officers were deployed and 35-year-old Nasir Shah was arrested in Queensgate shopping centre after CCTV operators picked him up on camera entering the Westgate Arcade.

He was initially released under investigation but later charged with being in possession of a knife in a public place. He was also charged with breaching a 10-week prison sentence which was suspended for two years in February, in relation to persistently calling police and threatening behaviour.

Shah, of Kesteven Walk in Eastgate, admitted the offences and appeared at Peterborough Crown Court today (Friday 27 November) where he was sentenced to a mental health treatment order for two years and a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

PC Josh Stevens said: “We do not know what Shah’s intentions were that day, or why he was carrying a knife, however we do know that so often people are seriously injured or lose their lives because of people using knives as a weapon.

“My plea to the public is that if you know someone who carries a knife, or have concerns, please do the right thing and report it to us.”

The sentencing comes as a national week-long operation to tackle knife crime is running this week. During the crack-down, the force is conducting knife sweeps, talking to retailers about selling to young people and educating school children through virtual presentations about the dangers of carrying knives.

Anyone with information about someone who carries a knife is urged to report it to police online at https://bit.ly/2Hft9GF.