Suffolk is being urged to unite to confront the issues it is facing following another stabbing in Ipswich.

Tim Passmore, the county’s police and crime commissioner, was speaking after a 19-year-old man was stabbed in Ipswich on Friday night.

It is the eighth stabbing in the county since Tavis Spencer-Aitkens was killed in June this year.

Police were initially called to reports of a fight on Norwich Road, near the junction with Deben Road, in Ipswich at 8.07pm on Friday night. They later found that a 19-year-old man had been stabbed.

Yesterday, police revealed a man had been arrested in connection with the incident and was being questioned by detectives.

Speaking following the latest incident, Mr Passmore said he was “shocked to hear of another serious Ipswich stabbing”.

He described the incident as a “cowardly and sickening attack” and called on members of the public to come forward with any information about the incident to Suffolk Police or Crimestoppers UK.

“We have got to come together to get rid of this blight on our society,” said Mr Passmore.

“This has got to stop. It doesn’t solve anything. We are just not used to it in Suffolk. ”

He also spoke of his worry for what the continued violence in the region could mean for business.

“What concerns me is the reputation of Ipswich and Suffolk. It could affect investment in the county.”

Mr Passmore said that a multi-agency approach was the only way that Ipswich, and Suffolk more generally, would be able to overcome the problems which had caused the violence in recent months.

“It’s going to be a long haul,” said Mr Passmore, “I think we have an awful lot to do.”

Mr Passmore said the police were working with the council, faith groups and a number of other agencies to tackle the issues involved.

He said that he was also in the process of applying for funding from the early intervention youth fund which has been set up by the Home Office.

The money has been made available for police and crime commissioners to apply for, in partnership with other agencies, in a bid to prevent and tackle serious violence.

Mr Passmore also reiterated need for more resources to be made available to Suffolk police to deal with violent crime, something which he said he was currently stressing to the Home Office.