POLICE have sought to reassure residents after the latest stabbing on Swindon’s streets.

On Saturday, officers were called to a brawl on Clifton Street that saw a 15-year-old boy stabbed in the chest. Onlookers described seeing a machete left in the road after the attack.

Yesterday, a 24-year-old suspected drug dealer arrested as armed officers raided town centre homes in the wake of the Clifton Street stabbing was remanded into custody. Mohammed Yunus Ali, of Gladstone Street, has been charged with possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs. He will appear before Swindon Crown Court on November 30.

Following the stabbing, Insp Steve Love of Wiltshire Police attempted to reassure residents: “Members of the public going about their business should not be alarmed.

“Wiltshire is the safest county in the country and has been for some time. What we need to help us to deter these individuals is information from members of the public.”

Extra patrols of the area had been ordered following the stabbing on Saturday, he added. Police were called at 7.45pm to a crash involving a black BMW and black Mercedes. The cars’ occupants are believed to have fought each other, resulting in three men being taken to hospital.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The Clifton Street stabbing is the latest in a spate of such attacks in the town over the past year.

Last month, a teenager had his armed sliced with a large knife in a fight between warring Penhill and Pinehurst teens. In September, a trio of youths were accused of stabbing a 20-year-old man in the chest. Det Insp Helen Jacobs called the attack in Kennedy Drive, Eldene, an isolated incident.

People have raised concerns about what appears to be rising violence in Swindon.

Addressing these fears, Mr Love blamed many of the attacks on a gang culture between groups selling drugs on the town’s streets: “These are random attacks, but the suspects tend to know each other. This is a minority of individuals within our community.”

Wiltshire Police has appealed for anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage of the Clifton Street fight to call Swindon CID on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Det Sgt Adrian Bray said: “Due to the nature of the incident and the fact that weapons were recovered at the scene, dog units and armed police officers were deployed to the area on Saturday night to carry out searches and look for suspects.

“We want to hear from anyone who was in Clifton Street on Saturday night and who saw the collision or the disorder.

“If you have CCTV footage or dash cam footage then this could be useful to our investigation, so please get in touch.”