A regional 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 incidents happen.

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

Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Clare Moody said there was often talk about responding to incidents, but “prevention is how we save lives”.

Mr Norris said: “Serious violence is a problem for all of us, so it’s a problem we all have to solve together.”