More knives will be taken off the streets of the West Midlands thanks to three new surrender bins, installed today.
The safe and secure metal boxes are there for people to dispose of knives, blades and other dangerous objects.
One of the bins will be installed outside the Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre, another on Duke Street in Stourbridge and a third outside St Peter’s Church in Wolverhampton.
The Stourbridge knife bin has been installed after support from the family of Ryan Passey, a man who was stabbed to death during a night out in the town.
The roll out of the bins is part of a concerted effort by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, to tackle violence and reduce harm. All the knives and weapons deposited into the knife bins are destroyed.
After the installation of the latest bins the region will have 23 weapon surrender bins across Birmingham, Solihull, the Black Country and Coventry.
Thousands of knives have already been placed into the regions’ knife bins with each weapon deposited potentially saving a life.
The bins are installed in consultation with the local community and partner organisations, including West Midlands police, the Violence Reduction Partnership and Wolverhampton and Dudley councils.
A map of all of the PCC’s weapon surrender bins in the West Midlands can be viewed here.
Knife crime has more than doubled across the West Midlands since 2012.
The West Midlands Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Tom McNeil, said: “These bins are just one measure needed to get knives off our streets – alongside much earlier intervention including support for young people in difficult circumstances, and tackling big issues that drive crime such as mental ill health and addiction.
“The bins are providing people with a legal and safe way to dispose of knives which they shouldn’t be carrying. Every knife posted into a surrender bin is potentially a life saved.
“These bins prove most effective when the community wants them and the message the PCC and I have been receiving loud and clear is that more are needed.
“Knives can ruin the lives of individuals, families and entire communities. If you have a knife or any weapon, or know somebody who does, I strongly recommend you dispose of it in one of these bins.”
Councillor Laura Taylor-Childs, cabinet member for housing and community services at Dudley Council, said:
“We are committed to working with the police to tackle and prevent knife crime in our borough.
“Through the safe & sound partnership, we have supported outreach work in schools to mentor and support young people and make them aware of the consequences of carrying knives and fully support the siting of this knife bin in Stourbridge.”
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Sadly, knives are very easy to obtain but, if we are able to get them off the streets, they cannot be used to commit a crime or cause injury.
“This is our fifth knife bin in Wolverhampton and, like the others, it will have an important role in helping to prevent crime and keeping our city safe.”
Sergeant Hayley Thompson, Solihull Neighbouhood Police Team, said: “Chelmsley Wood Neighbourhood Police Team work closely with the community, Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre and our security partners to keep you safe and we are committed to preventing the harm caused by knife crime.”
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