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Stab victims 'paying vets to stitch up their wounds' Stab victims 'paying vets to stitch up their wounds'
(about 5 hours later)
Stab victims are paying vets to stitch their wounds because they fear police will get involved if they go to hospital, the BBC has been told.Stab victims are paying vets to stitch their wounds because they fear police will get involved if they go to hospital, the BBC has been told.
Some are worried about being seen as informants, while others fear being implicated if something bad happens to the person who attacked them.Some are worried about being seen as informants, while others fear being implicated if something bad happens to the person who attacked them.
Frontline workers who deal with gang violence in Nottingham say they know people who have paid a vet to treat a stab wound.Frontline workers who deal with gang violence in Nottingham say they know people who have paid a vet to treat a stab wound.
The "going rate" is said to be £200.The "going rate" is said to be £200.
Sources told the BBC the practice had been going on for years.Sources told the BBC the practice had been going on for years.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said vets were not legally permitted to prescribe medicines for humans, but it did not have specific advice on whether they could treat wounds.The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said vets were not legally permitted to prescribe medicines for humans, but it did not have specific advice on whether they could treat wounds.
Former gang member Marcellus Baz, winner of the Unsung Hero award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, said he knew a qualified vet who stitched up knife wounds.Former gang member Marcellus Baz, winner of the Unsung Hero award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, said he knew a qualified vet who stitched up knife wounds.
Mr Baz, who runs an anti-knife crime programme, said: "They've got to get healed, they've got to get stitched and they know if they go to hospital, they're going to get police involvement."Mr Baz, who runs an anti-knife crime programme, said: "They've got to get healed, they've got to get stitched and they know if they go to hospital, they're going to get police involvement."
'Snitches get stitches''Snitches get stitches'
Nathan Kelly, a youth mentor for the Nottingham School of Boxing, said he was aware of people who had sought treatment outside hospital because "they don't want to go to the hospital and get it down on record they had been slashed or whatever".Nathan Kelly, a youth mentor for the Nottingham School of Boxing, said he was aware of people who had sought treatment outside hospital because "they don't want to go to the hospital and get it down on record they had been slashed or whatever".
"I know people personally that have gone and sought help from vets," he said.
Mr Kelly said he lied to medics after he was slashed in the face in an unprovoked attack several years ago.Mr Kelly said he lied to medics after he was slashed in the face in an unprovoked attack several years ago.
"The first thing they want to do is get the police involved," he said."The first thing they want to do is get the police involved," he said.
"For me that wasn't an option because I don't want to get seen as being an informant. And you know what they say, snitches get stitches.""For me that wasn't an option because I don't want to get seen as being an informant. And you know what they say, snitches get stitches."
The BBC has been told that some victims hop out of ambulances to avoid going to hospital, while others look for people who can stitch them up at home.The BBC has been told that some victims hop out of ambulances to avoid going to hospital, while others look for people who can stitch them up at home.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said no concerns had been raised about vets treating human wounds, but anyone with a concern could raise it confidentially.The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said no concerns had been raised about vets treating human wounds, but anyone with a concern could raise it confidentially.
Nottinghamshire Police has been asked to comment.Nottinghamshire Police has been asked to comment.