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Dean Bennett, 31, was airlifted to hospital last night after he was attacked in Connah’s Quay, in North Wales. Police said the dad-of-one suffered stab wounds and died in Aintree Hospital, Liverpool, following the attack.
A 46-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man have also been arrested.
Detective Chief Inspector Sion Williams said: “Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Dean’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.
“We understand that a serious incident like this has caused a lot of concern in the local community and we’d like to reassure residents that we are doing all we can to establish what has happened.
“Officers are on patrol in the area and a police cordon remains in place.
A man was stabbed to death outside Wales pub (Image: NC)
A man was stabbed to death outside Wales pub (Image: nc)
“To assist with the ongoing investigation I would encourage anyone who has any information, particularly anyone who witnessed the incident, or anyone who may have been in the vicinity of Dock Road shortly before 5pm, to come forward.”
Following his tragic death, tributes began pouring in for Dean, with many saying he had one of the “biggest hearts” in the town.
His friend Alleisha Carey said: “I will miss that laugh of yours and the crappy jokes that came with it.
“I can’t believe that this has actually happened to you.
READ MORE: London horror as man stabbed in mass brawl inside Selfridges
Stock image of police tape (Image: Getty)
“I hope you’ve found peace dude.”
This sad news comes as detectives warned police forces are bracing themselves for a rise in knife crime and violence this summer as lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Detectives fear spats between gangs will be settled on the streets as crowds return and pubs fully reopen, despite Office for National Statistics figures showing recorded knife crime dropped nine percent across England and Wales in 2020.
The ONS said the “majority” of fluctuations in crime rates for last year were due to fewer people being on the streets during extended periods of lockdown.
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It is widely believed that once pubs fully reopen tomorrow and the rest of the restrictions are lifted in June there could be a surge in violent offending and knife and firearms attacks.
Nick Titchener, a criminal defence solicitor at Lawtons Solicitors, said: “The underlying factors that contributed to the burgeoning of knife-related crime have not been addressed. The reduction in such offending was attributable to the artificial situation arising from enforced national lockdowns on the most part.
“With restrictions on social gatherings being lifted and life resuming a degree of normality, it is regrettable yet inevitable that the prevailing social problems concerning gangs and knife-related crime once again resurface and the number of such offences rises again.”
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Graham McNulty is the National Police Chiefs Council lead on tackling knife crime.
Stock image of Wales Police attending incident (Image: Getty)
Mr McNulty said: “We are aware of these fears (of an increase) and that was one of the reasons for the timing of Sceptre.
“Now the restrictions are being lifted and the pubs fully open, most forces I have spoken to plan to patrol prone hotspots to keep knife crime down and focus on the most prolific known offenders.
“In London, we are prepared and planning to tackle any rises that might be seen.”
Mr McNulty said taking 2020’s unusual circumstances out, knife crime has been steadily rising.
Stock image of Wales Police (Image: Getty)
Despite the drop in recorded offences, there have been several stabbings and murders involving teenagers.
Last month a 14-year-old boy was charged with the murder of another boy, 14, in London.
In January a 13-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Reading with five youths aged 13 to 14 arrested.
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