AS Police announce extra knife crime patrols
It follows several recent incidents including the deaths of two boys in Knowle West
Last updated 13th Feb 2024
Police are planning extra patrols on the streets of Bristol after a spate of stabbings in recent months.
Avon and Somerset Police say more of their officers will be out and about over "the coming weeks" to provide both visibility and reassurance, in key locations popular with young people.
We're told it comes after "a number of incidents" including the deaths of Max Dixon and Mason Rist in Knowle West two weeks ago, the stabbing of a teenager in Bristol city centre last week and the stabbing of a man in his 20s in Bishopston on Boxing Day.
There have also been recent incidents in Bath and across the wider force area.
Bristol Commander Superintendent Mark Runacres said: “We will continue our operational work targeting knife carriers and working closely with our Early Intervention Team and the Violence Reduction Partnerships and alongside local authorities and education providers to tackle and identify the root causes of why young people are carrying knifes.
“We encourage anyone who is concerned someone may be carrying a knife to please report it to someone, whether that’s the police, Crimestoppers, or just a trusted family member, friend or adult.
"We need to get these fatal weapons off the streets and prevent any more lives being lost.”
On Monday night (12 February) members of the Knowle West community came together for a football match at Mangotsfield United against a team from the Showman's Guild, to raise money for the families of Max and Mason who died in Knowle West.
Prior to kick off both teams came together in the centre circle accompanied by the boy's mothers, with a banner reading "only cowards carry knives".
Across Avon and Somerset, there are five Violence Reduction Partnerships who work closely with local authorities, police, healthcare, social care, and education to provide a coordinated response to preventing serious youth violence.
Their activity includes community mentoring for young people at risk of serious violence or crime, parent support groups, child safeguarding and anti-knife crime programmes.
Bristol’s local violence reduction partnership, Safer Options also run a number of intervention programmes and initiatives, including prevention workshops in schools.
More information on knife crime, what to do if you are worried or affected by it, and a list of local knife surrender bins is available here.