Avon and Somerset Police’s knife surrender bins will be in place again at a number of their buildings this week, as part of an ongoing operation to tackle knife crime.
The surrender bins will be in place in the front offices until the end of November at the following locations:
- Patchway Custody Centre;
- Broadbury Road Police Station;
- Trinity Road Police Station;
- The Bridewell Police Station;
- Frome (police post in the town centre).
Two permanent bins remain in place at Bristol Magistrates Court and Bristol Crown Court.
The placement of the bins is timely, as last week the Office for National Statistics reported that violent crime had increased in England and Wales in the twelve months to June, with a 26% increase in knife crime nationally.
In Avon and Somerset, crimes where knives or sharp implements were used to injure or threaten were actually down by 2.7% in the same time period, but offences involving possession of knives or bladed articles increased by 34%.
Force lead for knife crime Chief Inspector Zoe Chegwyn said: “The last time we put the surrender bins in place, we had nearly 200 knives handed in in just one week.”
“Every knife surrendered is one less knife out on the street, where they can and do cause serious harm. It’s not just the number of knives surrendered during these operations which is encouraging, but the type.
“There were some nasty looking machetes and zombie knives left in the bins which are usually only carried by people wanting to hurt others.
“The surrender bins are just one of a number of actions we take to try and reduce the dreadful impact knives can have. Our work in schools is on-going, with local officers regularly delivering hard hitting workshops which really bring home the impact knives can have not just on individuals, but on families and communities.
We need to understand why young people are carrying knives and work to dispel the myth that knives are somehow cool.
“We also want to let young people know that if they are worried that someone they know is carrying a knife, but are nervous about talking to the police, that they can contact Fearless (The Crimestoppers youth arm) anonymously and potentially help to save a life.”
As part of their education work, officers from the St Pauls beat team in Bristol, supported by Catch 22 and the Bright Outlook programme, will be making the most of the half term break and holding a drop-in session at the Malcolm X Centre on Thursday (October 26) from 11am – 3pm, to engage with the local community and talk to them about knife crime.
At this session, as well as a workshop explaining the law around knives and the consequences of possession, officers will be offering advice to parents and explaining how people can report anonymously if they suspect someone to be carrying a knife.
