One knife tragedy is too many.

These are the words of the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner who is calling for new initiatives and more government funding. 

David Sidwick said he fully supports the Daily Echo’s No More Knives campaign after the death of 18-year-old Cameron.

“The sadness that one feels for the loss of this young life is indescribable,” he said.

“My thoughts very much are with Cameron Hamilton and his family and his friends and indeed all those who have been touched by this because we are truly a town in mourning.”

As the previous chair of governors at Bournemouth School, Mr Sidwick said he was familiar with Cameron and has visited the square where mourners have been laying flowers in his memory. 

“I think we need as much awareness as possible.

“This is not saying that Bournemouth is not safe, this is saying that when individuals carry knives they make any place unsafe.”

Mr Sidwick said he supported the county force which previously stressed that increasing police patrols is not a straightforward solution.

However, he believes police should instead look at new initiatives.

“What happened [when Cameron died] is not about increased visibility because there was a large number of police officers out in the centre of town, but what we need is consistent visibility throughout the day.

“We need the police to be seen and to have a community focus.”

Mr Sidwick said Dorset Police are currently doing the largest training course ever endorsed, with another 60 officers set to be deployed across the county next month.

“I am also looking at more funding, for example, a mobile knife arch and a knife watch. So we’re looking at a number of different factors,” he said.

“I have been talking to the Chief Constable [Amanda Pearson], and to other partners, calling for a violence reduction unit, which is a public health approach to addressing knife crime in our society with our young people.”

Mr Sidwick said Cameron’s death is a ‘wake-up call’ and that he will continue to lobby for more funding for policing in the area.

“I think this campaign is a step in the right direction.

“We know that if you carry a knife, you are much more likely to injure yourself, or worse.

“And we need every young person to understand that it is a complex and difficult issue, it is a national issue.

“But we unfortunately now must start taking this public health approach to prevent our lovely town getting worse.”