A nine-year-old girl has died from a suspected stab wound in Lincolnshire.
Police were called to the scene in Boston, Lincolnshire at around 6.20pm on Thursday evening.
Officers have now launched a murder investigation and cordoned off a section of the surrounding residential area close to the town’s historic St Botolph’s Church.
Police cordoned off Fountain Lane, a street that backs onto the Grade II listed old court building The Sessions House.
Much of the nearby area is commercial, with car parks, a highstreet and several boarded-up shops, but the street also runs alongside the end of a residential road.
Officers said they will be at the scene ‘for the foreseeable future’ as they secure the scene and establish the facts surrounding the case.
A nine-year-old girl has died from a suspected stab wound in Lincolnshire. Pictured: Forensic analysts mark out the crime scene
Police were called to the scene in Fountain Lane, Boston, at around 6.20pm on Thursday, and officers have now launched a murder investigation
A police car is pictured parked at the scene of the fatal stabbing in Boston, Lincolnshire
A police officer collects bags of evidence after a girl, aged nine, died from a suspected stab wound in Boston
Home Office figures from 2016 found the port town of Boston, a sleepy market town in Lincolnshire, was the murder capital of England and Wales.
Boston came top of a list of the local authorities with the most cases of murder, attempted murder or conspiracy to commit murder per 100,000 people.
There was a rate of 15 murderous crimes per 100,000 people up to September 2015 – ranking as the highest per person average in England and Wales and rivalling huge cities such as Birmingham or London.
And the overall crime rate in the port town for 2021 was recorded as 100 crimes per 1,000 people, making it among the most dangerous towns in Lincolnshire.
A forensic expert is pictured working at the scene in Fountain Lane, Boston
The Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness, Matt Warman, said he had been in contact with the policing minister to ensure national assistance is available to the murder investigation
Boston (pictured) came top of a list of the local authorities with the most cases of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder per 100,000 people in 2016 figures released by the Home Office
The Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness, Matt Warman, said he had been in contact with the policing minister to ensure national assistance is available to the murder investigation.
‘Profoundly shocking news in Boston this evening,’ Mr Warman said in a statement posted on Twitter.
‘I have spoken to senior officers locally and am hugely grateful for all the emergency services’ work.
‘I have also been in contact with Policing Minister Tom Pursglove to ensure that any national help that might be useful is made available as quickly as possible.’
Lincolnshire Police added in a statement: ‘The young girl’s parents have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this incredibly difficult time.
‘Her family will be supported by specialist trained officers.
‘If you think you can help us in our enquiries, you can contact us by calling 101 quoting incident 419 of 28 July; by emailing [email protected] quoting incident 419 of 28 July in the subject line; if you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.’
Do you know more about the incident? Email [email protected]
