PCC Statement on recent knife crime convictions

The last couple of weeks have seen court sentences in tragic cases of murder of young people, by other young people, involving knife crime.

Earlier this month, two 16-year-old boys were jailed for more than 15 years for the fatal stabbing of Darrian Williams in Easton in February.

Five people, including four teenagers and one adult, were recently sentenced after the fatal stabbing of Mason Rist and Max Dixon in Knowle in January. Two more people were jailed for assisting those who carried out the attack.

Firstly, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of Darrian and Max and Mason. I cannot imagine the pain and trauma their loss has had on their families, but also the wider impact it has had in the communities in which these boys lived.

Both these tragic cases involve children as the victims and children as the perpetrators. Children killing other children – committing serious violence with irreversible damage caused to families, communities and whole generations.

The parents and other family members make clear these were bright, caring and funny boys, who had their whole lives ahead of them, it has been heart-wrenching that they are no longer with us.

These two cases have been particularly high profile but there have been other tragic cases over the last two years, like Eddie Kinuthia and Mikey Roynon.

Young people should not have their lives taken away by other young people or go through devastating experiences of losing friends or school mates.

I know from meeting and talking with people across Avon and Somerset that it is very concerning and frightening to see media coverage about high rates of knife crime in our cities and towns. It is a problem we must all address together through education and providing opportunity and futures with hope to young people  

These cases highlight the critical importance of robust prevention strategies, strong community engagement, and collaboration across agencies to address the root causes of serious violence because if the police are reacting to these horrific events then it’s already too late.