A Norfolk police chief has spoken about how the force is working to combat knife crime in the city after three people have been fatally stabbed in just three months.
Since August, Oliver Payne, Kalvin Taylor and Abdulkadar Chadli have all died in Norwich from wounds sustained by a knife.
In response to the murders Norfolk Police Superintendent Wes Hornigold is working to calm city folk's fears.
He said: "We understand there will be concerns in the community when a murder takes place. Although there have been three murders in the last three months, they are not connected and we do not believe they pose a wider risk to residents.
"Norfolk Police will continue to provide reassurance patrols in the Mousehold Street area of Norwich.
"We regularly hold SNAP meetings to gauge any concerns raised locally in our communities.
"We are proactively involved in focusing on both education and enforcement around knife crime in the county.
"Our safer schools team works within schools to educate young people about the dangers of knife crime.
"Campaigns like Operation Sceptre involve intensely focused activity, high visibility patrols and weapon sweeps – tactics officers use year-round.
"Earlier this year, we made 13 arrests as part of Operation Sceptre during a week of action, 73 weapon sweeps were carried out 63 stop searches with 21 knives seized and 12 collected from surrender bins. Officers and Trading Standards worked together to visit 16 retailers to check the safe and responsible sale of knives by not selling to under 18s.
"We continue to work with partners as knife crime and serious violence within our communities requires a wider multi-agency approach."
Oliver Payne was killed in Paragon Place on August 2. Despite three months of investigations, his killer remains at large and police said they believe the suspect has left the county.
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The body of 19-year-old Kalvin Taylor was found on September 21 in a flat in Mile Cross, where police believe he was stabbed six days previously.
Leon Bangura, 22, Adam Dugdale, 55, and Carrie-Anne Hall, 51, have all been charged with murder after Mr Taylor's body was discovered.
Abdulkadar Chadli was fatally wounded in a house in Mousehold Street on November 1. Elvis Vickers, 46, has been charged with his murder and has been remanded into police custody.
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