IT seems that despite recent incidents, people feel that Hereford is still a safe place to live and visit.

In April, a national survey saw Hereford come out on top as being the safest place to live in the UK.

However, just a few days later two people were stabbed in random attacks in the city.

A month later, two more people were injured in another double stabbing in Newton Farm.

And at the end of last month, forensic officers were again visible after a 13-year-old boy was taken to hospital following a robbery on the Great Western Way.

But, despite this, many people still believe Hereford feels like a safe place to live.

Jack Trattell moved from London to Hereford with his parents when he was five, and says that he has never felt scared while walking around the city.

“Everybody knows everybody else here so I don’t feel threatened at all.

“I feel fine to walk around on my own whenever, and although my parents are cautious and tell me to be careful I do feel safe here,” he added.

Ali Dhoren, who lives in Canon Pyon, agreed.

She said: “I’ve lived here for so long and have my family here so I do feel safe and feel like I can walk around on my own.”

Jose Camacho said that he feels safer in the city, where he has lived for 10 years, than when he lived in his native Portugal.

“It is alright here, and recent incidents haven’t coloured my view at all. I actually feel safer here than I did when living in Portugal, so I haven’t had any problems,” he said.

It isn’t only those living here who feel secure in Hereford. Clive Hepworth, from Durham, was visiting for the day with friends and said he hasn’t ‘felt threatened in the slightest’.

However, the recent incidents have made others feel a little more guarded when walking around the city.

Jarrad Jones, a student at the Hereford Academy, said although he generally feels safe, since the recent stabbings he has ‘become more wary’.

“Although I do feel fairly safe I just pay more attention to things around me,” he added.

Fellow student Meg Hemmings added: “Since the stabbings I really don’t feel that safe anymore. I do still go out on my own but I am much more careful.

“I think more about my safety now when I’m going out with friends – especially on a night out – than when I did before.

“I definitely feel more vulnerable.”