Warning After Child Pricked With Used Needle At Park

A warning has been issued after a youngster pricked himself with a used needle at a park in Market Harborough.

The nine-year-old boy suffered a puncture wound to his arm as he took the syringe off a younger child at Symington’s Recreation Ground.

It happened in the wooded play area on the day of the town’s carnival on June 14th.

The boy was seen by medical teams at the event, before being taken to hospital for treatment and his parents are now anxiously awaiting the results of blood tests for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV.

The incident happened in the wooded play area at Symington’s Recreation Ground

Other drugs paraphernalia was found in the area and the parents of the child have released details of the incident to HFM to warn others to be on-guard when allowing children to play in the area.

The boy’s mother said: “I just wanted to make other parents and carers aware that areas we assume are safe for our children to play in unfortunately are becoming dumping grounds for drug paraphernalia.

“This is totally unacceptable and more must be done to protect our children in their designated safe spaces to play. By raising awareness of this issue we hope other families do not suffer the same turmoil we are currently experiencing.”

Harborough District Council says it takes such incidents very seriously and Cat Hartley, Director of Communities and Wellbeing, said: “We are very saddened and disappointed at the thoughtlessness of anyone who would leave drug paraphernalia in a children’s play area.

“We have been in contact with the parent of the child, as well as speaking to the local police and our own Community Safety Team to ensure they are aware and can increase vigilance moving forward.

“All of our play areas are regularly inspected by our contractor, including litter picking, emptying of bins, and a thorough check of the play equipment by a dedicated ROSPA-trained operative, who reports any anomalies.

“We take any report of discarded needles and syringes very seriously and always action an immediate response. We urge anyone who may come across these to report it to us straight away so we can remove them safely.”

Cllr Simon Whelband, leader of the opposition, spoke to HFM about the incident:

You can report discarded needles and syringes via the medical waste collections/needles page on the council’s website HERE