People in Burton are being asked to “bin their blades” as the police launch a knife amnesty to help take knives off the streets and save lives.
Following on from the success of last year’s knife amnesty, which saw almost 1,000 knives surrendered, knife bins will be located across Burton and the rest of Staffordshire as police officers work to cut knife crime and educate people about the dangers of carrying blades.
Any knives collected during the knife amnesty, which will take place from July 10 until July 16, will be given to the British Ironwork Centre for them to use as part of a sculpture they hope will appear on a Trafalgar Square plinth.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Jones, head of local policing and operations at Staffordshire Police, said: "We would like to repeat the successes of last year where we reduced the likelihood of people carrying or using knives throughout the amnesty period.
“Sadly there are still some people who believe carrying a knife or storing a knife as a weapon in their home is a good idea and something that they need to do to fit in or be seen as tough.
“The truth of the matter is that you are far more likely to be hurt if you have a knife, with around 70 per cent of all people admitted to hospital with knife injuries stabbed with their own knife.
“It makes no sense whatsoever to carry a knife – so don’t; take the opportunity during the amnesty to get rid and save yourself and your family from the senseless pain that carrying a knife can bring.”
In June and July last year the public handed in nearly 1,000 knives while knife crime dropped 18 per cent during the dates of the amnesty. However, the use of knives in all crimes has continued to increase nationally between April 2016 and April 2017.
Chief Constable Gareth Morgan said: "The prevention of crime is one of our most important strategic objectives and so projects like the knife amnesty are of incredible value to us.
"If we can stop someone making the wrong decision early in their life then all sorts of bad situations can be avoided and hopefully police resources can be directed elsewhere.
"During last year's amnesty we saw a drop in knife crime of 18 per cent and working with partners like the British Ironwork Centre we can hopefully buck the national trend and continue to reduce knife crime in the months and years to come."
The presence of the knife bins will be complemented by sessions in schools to help educate school children on the dangers of carrying knives.
Local youth offender teams will also be engaging with young people to discourage them from carrying and using knives, while trading standards officers will be educating and inspecting businesses that sell knives to ensure they are doing everything possible to prevent a sale to an under-18.
To play your part in reducing knife crime, report people who you know or suspect may be carrying a weapon illegally by calling 101, or dial 999 if a crime is in progress or a life is in danger.
If you can't talk to police, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 and give information about crime anonymously.
The nearest knife bin will be at Burton Police Station in Horninglow Street. The police station will open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday and from 9am until 2pm on Saturday. It is closed on a Sunday.
Monument to be made with surrendered knives
Clive Knowles, chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, said: "We have worked hard for more than two years to create what is now known as ‘The National Monument against Violence and Aggression'.
"Working alongside all 43 police forces we have removed more than 100,000 knives off the streets of the UK. We are now increasing our efforts to remove a quarter of a million knives and weapons off the UK streets.
"Staffordshire Police's pro-active approach in tackling knife crime in their force area is to be commended and we hope they continue to reduce knife crime statistics in Staffordshire."
