Bristol stabbings: City must keep 'foot on pedal' to tackle knife crime

Supt Mark Runacres said the "good work" had to continue

A senior police officer says Bristol must keep its "foot on the pedal" to tackle rising knife crime in the city.

Avon and Somerset Police Bristol Commander Mark Runacres added he was "optimistic" about progress.

So far three teenagers and one man have been fatally stabbed in Bristol since the start of 2024.

His comments come after the force said on Monday 175 blades have been deposited in two surrender bins since last year.

There are 17 such surrender bins across the Avon and Somerset region - which has resulted in more than 5,000 knives being taken off the streets since 2016.

Police officers installed two bins in Castle Park and the Park Centre to encourage people to safely and anonymously surrender knives.

Zombie knives, Rambo knives and machetes are among the blades surrendered in the two bins.

Two more bins will be installed in East Bristol this month.

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Supt Mark Runacres told BBC Points West that officers had also found weapons buried in the ground in Castle Park to be picked up later.

In March, news outlets and other organisations in the city signed a letter demanding an end to the "scourge of knife crime".

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

'Difference has been made'

Two months on, Supt Runacres said there had been a "really good response" from "police, from partner agencies, education, the local authority and communities as well".

"I think it has made a difference, there has been some really good activity in the last few weeks.

"Some good arrests, weapons uncovered. But we need to keep our foot on the pedal on this and do more."

He added: "I am optimistic. There has been lots of good work but we need to continue that."

Max Dixon, 16, and Mason Rist, 15, were stabbed in Knowle West on 27 January; and Darrian Williams, 16, was stabbed in Easton on 14 February.

Aliki Mamwa, 30, died from stab wounds on 5 March in St Pauls, and 19-year-old Eddie Kinuthia was fatally stabbed in the same area of the city in July 2023.