Avon and Somerset PCC elections: How will candidates tackle knife crime?

Three young people have been fatally stabbed in Bristol this year

With knife crime on the rise and fears over more young people feeling compelled to carry knives, tackling the issue is a priority for Avon and Somerset Police.

Last year, the Office of National Statistics recorded 1,368 knife crimes in the police force area - 14% more than the year before

Three young people have lost their lives in Bristol since the start of the year, with a fourth man - in his 30s - killed in an altercation in March.

On Thursday, the public will have its say during the Police and Crime Commissioner election over who the person who holds the police to account should be.

The BBC has asked the four candidates for Avon and Somerset what they would do to reduce knife crime.

Liberal Democrat candidate: Benet Allen

Benet Allen was formerly Deputy Leader of Somerset West and Taunton Council

The Liberal Democrat candidate Benet Allen said, our society is fragmented "if people don't feel safe, and if they don't feel there are enough police around."

"The police have been hollowed out, public services have been hollowed out.

"The only way we are going to solve this is working together with public services, with local councils and places like Empire Fighting Chance".

(Empire Fighting Chance is a boxing gym in east Bristol, which works to challenge and inspire young people.)

Green candidate: Katy Grant

Katy Grant is a councillor in Bristol, and an Avon and Somerset magistrate

Green Party candidate Katy Grant said: "I think the police need to be far more visible in communities where the hotspots of knife crime are, and we need to work on building that relationship of trust.

"Of course, there is also the issue of responding to knife crime, but ideally we would get behind this with young people, with community members, with teachers in schools, with all of the youth services and outreach workers already doing great work on it, and try to make sure this problem doesn't happen in the first place".

Labour candidate: Clare Moody

Clare Moody is the chief executive of an equality and human rights charity

Labour candidate Clare Moody said: "We have to have that neighbourhood policing being built back up again.

"So it's about where the police are, as well as how many police there are as well."

She continued: "We need to work with communities. It's really important that the police are part of the community; that there is a response before any crime has been committed.

"That there is engagement and constructive opportunities for young people as well."

Conservative candidate: Mark Shelford

Mark Shelford is the current Avon and Somerset PCC and is seeking re-election

Conservative candidate Mark Shelford said: "The police deal with the symptoms. They do stop and search. I'm working with Anna Firth MP to reduce the sale of rambo and machetes."

He added that he believes the answer lies with working on the causes with the community and said he is committed to making Duke of Edinburgh awards, scouting and guiding part of the national curriculum.

He believes this will work to "empower the youth, to give them that team spirit, that feeling of community engagement".

More information on the four candidates can be found here.