There have been claims of a "deafening culture of silence" around city knife crime after a man was killed following a stabbing last week.
A murder investigation has been launched by Thames Valley Police after a fatal stabbing in College Lane in Littlemore at around 6.05pm on Sunday February 25.
Two men, aged 33 and 28, were taken to hospital with stab wounds.
One of the men, 33-year-old Tobias Bruce, has since died in hospital.
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Councillor Jabu Nala-Hartley, of the Barton and Sandhills ward, said she had been left shocked by the incident after being informed by her children the victim was a man known to them.
Jabu Nala-Hartley (Image: Contribution.)
Ms Nala-Hartley said: "This is not the first murder.
"A man was hacked to death in Blackbird Leys a few years ago.
"A lot of the people involved don't report the stabbings because they fear they'll be 'snitching'.
"These people were members of families who loved them - both the perpetrator and the victims."
Ms Nala-Hartley is founder of the Mothers 4 Justice Ubuntu (M4JU), a "collective of mothers and family members of people in prison, who are campaigning for justice, accountability and change within the police and criminal justice system".
Tobias Bruce was killed as a result of the stabbing. (Image: Family handout)
The Barton resident added: "The culture of silence around what is happening on our council estates is deafening.
"We need interventions that will bring healing to our young people who are plagued by this senseless violence."
Reverend Margreet Armitstead, from the St Mary and St Nicholas Church in Littlemore, a two-minute walk from College Lane, said: "We're tremendously saddened by the latest news.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Tobias Bruce and all others involved.
"The church will be open for prayer, to light a candle or if you'd like to talk with someone in the coming days between 4 - 6pm or by request.
Police at the scene of the incident in Littlemore. (Image: Newsquest)
"We're here for you, we pray for peace and calm in our community."
A man who has lived in the area for seven years, and who wished to stay anonymous, said he thought such incidents in the area were "very rare".
He added: "This is not an incident that happens every day.
"Personally I think it's something very rare."
Sandy Douglas (Image: Oxford City Council.)
Littlemore ward councillor Sandy Douglas said he was "shocked" by the murder.
He added: "I know from speaking to residents around College Lane and Littlemore there have been concerns about lower level crime."
Oxford City Council ran a consultation last year with a specific focus on the Little Park and Cowley Road Shop area as well as the St Nicholas Road shop area and Alice Smith Square.
People were encouraged to "share their concerns and offer suggestions on how to improve public space in Littlemore to make it safer for everyone".
Shaista Aziz, who was previously cabinet member for safer communities and now serves as a Lye Valley ward councillor, said: "Overall good work is being done but much more is needed.
Shaista Aziz. (Image: Oxford City Council.)
"No one should be carrying around knives.
"I agree with councillor Jabu Nala-Hartley in that we should make this a public health issue.
"We could learn a lot from the Scottish approach."
An Oxford City Council spokesman did not wish to comment on what it described as an "ongoing police investigation" when asked what action it had taken towards reducing knife crime.
We have also contacted Thames Valley Police for comment.
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