The local mayor has announced he will invest in a new office focused on preventing knife crime and serious violence in a bid to “save lives” before it happens.

West of England Mayor Dan Norris confirmed plans for the UK’s first Office for the Prevention of Violence while visiting the Empire Fighting Chance Boxing Gym in Bristol.

Clare Moody, Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, said there was frequent talk of responding to incidents but “prevention is the way to save lives”.

Mr Norris said: “Serious violence is a problem for all of us, so this is a problem we all need to solve together.”