Police in Bath and North East Somerset say they are working to reduce knife crime in the area, and are encouraging parents to talk to their children about the consequences of carrying a knife.

Following the death of Mikey Roynon, 16, from a stab wound in Bath earlier this month Chief Inspector Ronald Lungu, of the Bath Neighbourhood Policing team said: "I hear the community's concerns about this and other recent incidents and would like to reassure them we are doing everything we can to tackle knife crime in Bath, as well as in other towns and cities across our policing area."

The team were carrying out "reassurance patrols" in the Weston area of Bath last week, but the police say their work to reduce knife crime goes much wider.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: "We work all year round to tackle knife crime and keep our communities safer. We can and will always use our powers to stop people carrying weapons in public. Using intelligence, we conduct stop and searches where we're concerned there might be weapons involved. We confiscate weapons and prosecute people for carrying them. 

"But we also know enforcement is not the only answer – we can't police our way out of serious violence and knife crime, the causes are complex and multi-faceted.

"We are working alongside communities and other partners to improve the life outcomes of our young people, as we recognise that many of the people involved are vulnerable and need support."

The Neighbourhood Policing Team have hosted pop-up stands to increase awareness and understanding, and have delivered talks on the dangers and consequences of carrying knives in schools and youth clubs.

They said: "Educating young people is also an important part of our response. A small majority of young people feel that carrying a knife is a way of keeping themselves safe, and while we know that only one in 100 young people actually do carry a knife, we're committed to educating all young people about the dangers of knives. 

"In the last six months, the neighbourhood team delivered 137 engagement sessions in schools across Bath and North East Somerset. Of these sessions, the ones delivered in secondary schools often include education around knife crime."

They also work with local shops to tackle the selling of weapons to people under 18, and carry out patrols in high demand areas, with the intention of deterring those intent on crime or violence and targeting known habitual carriers.

The team is calling on people to surrender any weapons at any of Avon and Somerset Police's 17 weapon surrender bins, which include bins available at Bath and Radstock Police Stations, and Keynsham Police Centre.

The spokesperson stated: "Our work to tackle knife crime requires the support of our communities. We need you to continue to share your concerns and information about issues in your local area. We'd also encourage parents and carers to talk to their children about the devastating consequences of carrying a knife.

"Any information will be used to build a picture of what's happening, which helps us to shape our response. We want to keep communities safe and reduce the number of knives on the streets, and ultimately the number of families who have to experience the awful consequences of knife crime."

If you think your school could benefit from an engagement session with the police, contact your neighbourhood policing team here: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/apply/neighbourhood-policing-teams/