Suffolk Police say they're working to prevent more attacks after two stabbings in two weeks
"Our pledge is that we are doing something about it"
Last updated 20th Jan 2023
Suffolk Police say they are working with their partners to try and prevent any more violent crimes in the county.
We've been speaking to them following two fatal stabbings involving teenagers in the county in two weeks.
We spoke to Chief Superintendent Marina Ericson:
"Any crimes of this nature are absolutely horrific, most particularly for families, friends, all those involved.
"Our hearts go out to all people who have been involved and have been affected by this.
"We're also thinking of the partners and the policing involved in this, because we do take great care in trying to respond to our communities, and work with our communities to prevent crimes happening, so when crimes like this happen, particularly two so close, back to back, they really shock us as well."
What are the police doing now?
"We are now working with our partners in a more reactive, responsive way to these incidents.
"We're not only looking at our immediate reaction to it, making sure we deliver the policing response that the public expects us to provide - that reassurance, that community engagement - while also running very serious investigations.
"We're also working with our partners to look at not just the short-term aspects but the medium and long-term aspects.
"What I would say is, we are in the process. We're continually formulating these plans and responding to them and working with partners to enhance our provision into the communities.
"We're really trying to gain an understanding of what is causing some of these incidents."
The police's message to the public
"The fact these attacks happened in quick succession is understandably of huge concern to the public, but the wider context needs to be put in place here, to help provide reassurance to the communities.
"Suffolk actually is a really safe place generally... and what I really want to do, through our policing, is provide that reassurance.
"The attack in Ipswich was completely brazen, a man wielding a knife in a public place, in the middle of the day. It's completely shocking, but thankfully, it is not an occurrence that happens very often at all, it's incredibly rare.
"...The fact that it is shocking is a good thing because it tells us this is out of the norm and we must do something about it.
"Our pledge is that we are doing something about it.
"We have full investigation teams wrapped around this working day and night, working with the most senior, skilled detectives that we have in force, working really hard to not only capture those who are responsible but to understand what's happened and how it happened."