A new knife surrender bin has been officially opened in Bilston to help keep the streets of the Black Country safe.
The site, outside Morrisons supermarket on the main Black Country Route, is part of the ‘Bin a Knife’ community initiative and brings the total number of knife surrender bins across the West Midlands to 13.
The bin was unveiled today (Thurs 10th December) by Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Judy Foster after having been donated by the British Ironworks Centre.
Assistant PCC Judy Foster explained: “These knife bins give people a place to safely off-load items, which could instead destroy lives. Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson is a supporter of the knife surrenders that have helped get over 400 knives off our streets in the last few months alone.
“Our communities have told us that they want an end to knife crime and that they want to work with us to make that happen. These bins are a direct response to members of the public who have called for a Knife Surrender bin to be located here in Bilston.
“I would like to thank our partners in the community and other organisations who have worked together to bring this about. The success of our Knife Surrender campaign throughout the West Midlands region is due to the groundswell of support from the community and particularly our young people.”
In September a total of 406 knives and many other weapons, including firearms were successfully ‘binned’ and taken off the streets of the West Midlands after nine knife bins in the region were emptied.
The latest Knife Surrender bin has been installed by the British Ironworks Centre, based in Shropshire, which plans to use the knives collected from forces across the UK to create a monument commemorating the lives of stabbing victims at London’s Trafalgar Square.
Managing Director of the British Ironworks Centre Clive Knowles said,
“Here at the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire we are attempting to facilitate national amnesties, by donating totally free of any cost Knife bins for any UK police constabularies.
“With the knifes collected we are building the UK’s National monument against violence and aggression, all knifes are required, the aim is to achieve 100,000 knifes off the streets of the UK.
“Bilston in the West Midlands is one of those areas showing great strength in leadership in helping to spear head this campaign.”
Judy Foster added: “The people who use our knife surrender bins are making a positive decision, which in many cases is probably the best decision they will ever make. The message is clear – don’t carry a knife, it’s no way to protect yourself and ultimately there is a much greater chance that it will be used against you.”
Bilston North Councillor Linda Leach said: “I am committed to making Bilston a better place to live and I am delighted that this knife surrender bin is now in place. Each and every knife handed in will help make our community that little bit safer.”
