PCC statement following death of teenage boys in South Bristol

I am deeply saddened by the shocking and senseless deaths of two boys, aged only 15 and 16, in Knowle, South Bristol, this weekend following an incident involving knife crime.

The grief being felt by the families of those boys and the impact it will have on their loved ones, as well as the wider community, is unimaginable.

I want to send my sympathies and condolences to everyone who is affected.

A tragedy such as this, where two young people have lost their lives, is a bleak reminder of the awful consequences of carrying and using knives. 

Preventing knife crime, and stopping young people coming to harm, is a priority for our Violence Reduction Partnership which includes the police.

I will be seeking assurances from all the partners involved, that everyone is working together to understand why this happened and ensure we are doing all we can to prevent such a terrible thing happening to other children in the future.

Police have launched a murder investigation and are working diligently to find those responsible. They need help and information from the community.

If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5224023382, or click here to complete the police online appeals form.

If you want to give information, but you are worried about giving your name, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form.

No personal details are ever taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court or have to speak to police when contacting Crimestoppers