Blunkett steps in over migrant clashes in Sheffield

Former Home Secretary and Brightside and Hillsborough MP David Blunkett and colleague Clive Betts, who represents Sheffield South East, have made a fresh plea for additional support from the Government to deal with ongoing clashes in the Page Hall area.

It comes following a street fight thought to have involved 25 people, which broke out between rival groups on Monday night.

The incident, which resulted in one teenager requiring hospital treatment, is the latest in a string of disturbances in the area following an influx of Roma migrants.

Mr Blunkett said: “Clive Betts and I are making urgent further approaches to Eric Pickles with a view to following up a meeting earlier this year, when we requested that additional support should be made available not just to this area of Sheffield but to where resources were desperately needed to help with integration.

“I hope that the Government will now respond, as so far they’ve effectively washed their hands of what so many of us have been warning would be a serious problem.

“Cash alone cannot put this right, but help with real pressures at a time when local government has literally not a penny to spare is vital.”

South Yorkshire Police have arrested four people in connection with the disturbance.

A 16-year-old male and two men, aged 27 and 28, held on suspicion of violent disorder have been released on police bail until next week. Another 17-year-old man was in police custody yesterday on suspicion of the same offence.