Teenager injured in Leamington Pump Room Gardens stabbing
A teenager has been hospitalised with serious injuries following a stabbing incident at Pump Room Gardens in Leamington Spa on Friday evening.
Warwickshire Police said the attack occurred near the bandstand in the 5.5-acre public park at approximately 22:25 BST. The victim, whose age has not been disclosed, was stabbed in the chest and remains in hospital in a stable condition.
Officers have arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of affray, a public order offence under Section 3 of the Public Order Act 1986 involving the use or threat of unlawful violence that would cause a person of reasonable firmness to fear for their safety. The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment. Police said inquiries are ongoing to identify and locate the person responsible for the stabbing.
Detective Inspector Imran Ghouri described the incident as extremely serious and said the force recognised that many people were in the area at the time. The gardens, which are open 24 hours daily, serve as a central recreation space for the town of 50,923 residents and regularly host community events including food festivals and music performances.
This was an extremely serious incident and we are working hard to identify the person responsible
Det Insp Ghouri appealed for anyone with information or video footage to contact the force.
Regional knife crime context
The incident comes against a backdrop of declining knife crime in Warwickshire, where offences decreased by 22.8% in the 12 months to September 2024. Office for National Statistics figures show reported cases fell from 381 to 294 over that period.
Nationally, England and Wales recorded approximately 48,774 knife crime offences in the year ending March 2026, representing an 8% decrease from the previous 12 months. However, young people aged 10-17 still accounted for approximately 18% of the nearly 19,700 cautions and convictions for possession of a knife or offensive weapon in the year ending March 2025.
The Grade II-listed Pump Room Gardens, maintained by Warwick District Council, are designated on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
Warwickshire Police urged anyone with information about Friday's stabbing to come forward.
