There will be a discussion on the open letter - and the problems of knife crime on Points West on BBC One at 6.30pm this evening.

On that panel will be:

• Supt Mark Runacres - Bristol Commander, Avon and Somerset Police
• Martin Bisp - Empire Fighting Chance boxing gym
• Victoria Boomer- Clark - Executive Principal, Oasis Academy John Williams where Max Dixon and Mason Rist were both pupils
• Serena Wiebe - Friend of Eddie Kinuthia since reception and now boxing coach

More now from Gail Iles, the grandmother of stabbing victim Mason Rist.

Gail believes stronger measures should be taken to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

"I think there should be more stop and searches," she said.

"If people have nothing to hide, does it really matter if they get searched?"

"Anyone caught with a knife should get five years (in prison). That'd stop them doing it".

She added: "There've been so many kids lately who've been murdered by knives... they aren't big carrying knives - they're cowards."

Ch Insp Mike Vass from Avon and Somerset Police has called on parents to be "more intrusive" into the lives of their children.

The force's knife crime lead said parents have to be responsible for "what is in your household".

He also warns about the risks of social media and who children are talking to online.

Mason Rist's grandmother, who gave an interview to the BBC, has said more should be done to help young people in the city.

She thinks young people are not being pushed towards social and sports clubs, where they are supervised, and can put their energies into an activity.

"I know they've shut some youth clubs down but there's so much they can do these days. Join a boxing club or play football or something.

"We didn't have stuff like that (when I was a child) and we didn't get into trouble like this," she said.

A Bath University professor of political violence says technology is the "elephant in the room" in terms of the behaviour of children.

He says it is "creating divisions" amongst children "forcing them into tribalism", forcing them into violence.

"So I think there is something really devastating about the impact in which technology is literally killing our children," he adds.

The grandmother of one of the recent stabbing victims has given the BBC an emotional interview.

Gail Iles told us she felt "numb" at the death of Mason Rist, who died alongside friend Max Dixon in February.

"It's four weeks ago and I haven't even cried because my kids and grandchildren have been so upset, and you've got to be there for them because you are mum, you are nan.

"I asked if I could give him a kiss and they said yes. I hope he didn't feel anything - he didn't feel any pain."

She added: "He was a happy boy and had lots of friends."

• Read that story in full here

The Post, and its sister publication Bristol Live, have been leading the publication of the open letter to the city.

Here's the key points the open letter is calling for:

• Set up a task force - "We will develop a community-driven task force to meet and discuss the issue, how best to tackle it and how we can make a real difference with those in power."
• Getting knives off the street - "We will work with the campaigners to raise awareness of initiatives designed to get knives off the streets."
• Social media - "We will look at the Online Safety Bill and see if it goes far enough where it comes to harmful knife-related content on social media and how easy it is for children to see."
• Raise awareness - "We will work together to raise the awareness of how knife crime is linked to poverty, education, employment, social exclusion and the collapse in youth services."
• Lobby the government - "We will cover the issue in the context of the General Election, using our findings from the taskforce and our reporting to lobby for change."
• Hold power to account - "We will scrutinise and hold Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council to account on their plans and models to make Bristol safer."

On BBC Radio Bristol's breakfast programme we'll be talking to a panel of people from the city about their feelings on the open letter.

They'll be talking to Joe Sims after 8am, and we'll be following that conversation live here. If you want to listen to the programme, click the play button at the top of this page.

The panel will be:

• Shelim Ali - a father of three who runs a group call Knives Down, Guards Up
• Scott from Bishopsworth - He says parents need to do more
• Jackie and her two sons Reece and Ryan

We'll bring you their thoughts soon on this page and on BBC Radio Bristol.

First, to the letter that has sparked this day of coverage.

It has been signed by a number of media organisations including Bristol Live, Bristol 24/7, the Bristol Cable and Bristol World.

It is calling for an end to the "scourge of knife crime".

They plan to raise awareness, get knives off the street, and to hold people in power to account for the fatal attacks on young people.

It states knife crime has been worsened by cuts to vital youth services.

In the open letter, signatories have called upon the city to unite and say "enough is enough" to knife crime.

• Read more about the letter here
• Read the letter in full on Bristol Live, external

Good morning.

Bristol has seen a number of stabbings at the start of 2024. In 18 days, three teenagers lost their lives: Mason Rist, 15, Max Dixon, 16 and Darrian Williams, also aged 16.

Today, a number of organisations across the city, including Bristol Live, have signed an open letter calling for action.

We'll have details of the letter in a moment.

Across today on the BBC, we'll be looking at the problem both here, on BBC Radio Bristol and later on Points West on BBC One.