Police are treating the stabbing of an 18-year-old man in Felixstowe yesterday as a targeted attack.

Ipswich Star: An 18-year-old man was taken to hospital with an injury to his neck Picture: ARCHANTAn 18-year-old man was taken to hospital with an injury to his neck Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

Officers were called to a house in Runnacles Way at around 4.50pm on Saturday, October 13, to reports a man had been stabbed.

A police spokesman said he was rushed to hospital with a wound to his neck.

He added his injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing and that the victim has since left the hospital.

“Enquiries are on-going, however police are treating the incident as a targeted attack and are confident there is no wider threat to the community,” he said.

A police cordon put up in Runnacles Way following the assault has now been taken down.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, described the incident as ‘appalling’ adding he was in favour of increased sentences for anyone found in possession of a blade.

He said: “I would encourage the criminal justice system to look again at sentencing. If sentences need to be increased, I am all for it.

“It is so disturbing that people think carrying knives and resorting to dreadful violence is going to resolve matters - it won’t.

“This appalling behaviour doesn’t solve anything.

“If anything it makes it much worse because you get tit-for-tat crimes taking place, it escalates.

“Having spent time and spoken with people who have carried knives in the past, they also thought they were protecting themselves but now see it didn’t protect them at all. “People need to realise there are consequences for carrying around knives - this is what can happen, it can affect you for your whole life.

“Let me make this clear, as long as I am commissioner the work the constabulary is doing to take the knives off the streets will continue. The system will catch up with you in the end.”

Felixstowe Inspector Andy Pursehouse said: “We will continue to highlight the dangers of carrying knives, and other weapons, and the devastating consequences this can have on the lives of young people.

“If you are found illegally in possession of a knife you will be arrested, put before the court and brought to justice.

“Carrying knives or other weapons do not keep you safe.

“By carrying a knife you are putting yourself in much greater danger, and more likely to become involved in a violent situation and get injured yourself.

“We conduct a variety of operations and initiatives to tackle knife crime and there are a number of knife amnesty bins across the county in place across the county that we would encourage people to use and help us to keep Suffolk safe.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident in Felixstowe or saw any suspicious behaviour in the area at the time of the assault should contact Ipswich CID on 101, quoting crime reference 37/59652/18.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555111 or via their anonymous online form