Latest news with #weaponsurrender
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Chatteris boy hands in 24 knives during police weapons amnesty
A boy has handed in more than 20 weapons during a police force knife young person from Chatteris got in touch with officers to request a home visit to collect the unwanted weapons, according to Cambridgeshire Police. A spokesperson thanked the boy who had "confided in us that he didn't feel comfortable travelling to one of our knife amnesty bins to hand them in". It was part of a pilot scheme in which people unable to travel to a police station knife bin during the week-long amnesty could request a home visit instead. The annual Cambridgeshire Police amnesty offers people the chance to surrender weapons such as knives and also includes knuckledusters, extendable batons, curved swords and zombie weapons, which are now illegal to year, the force piloted home visits in some areas of Peterborough, Fenland and east Cambridgeshire. Those interested got in touch by email and an officer arranged a time for collection. Possession of weapons offences in Cambridgeshire have increased by 31%, from 312 between April 2023 and March 2024, to 408 between 2024-2025, police said.A record 370 items were handed in during the last amnesty in November, the force also undertook school visits during the week, while extra patrols carried out in "hotspot" areas, targeting those believed to be carrying knives. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
West Midlands PCC to double number of knife disposal bins in region
The number of weapon surrender bins across the West Midlands is to Foster, the police and crime commisioner for the area, said he would double the number of bins from 32 to 64, "reaffirming his longstanding commitment to combat knife crime."The West Midlands Police area has the second highest rate of knife crime in England and Wales, having previously had the highest are able to dispose of knives and weapons in the metal containers, with 1,705 weapons surrendered in bins in the West Midlands Police area between January and March, which were later destroyed. That equates to 142 weapon deposits a week or more than 20 per day. The recent haul included hundreds of flick knives, zombie knives, kitchen knives, knuckle dusters, machetes and even PCC said every knife, blade or weapon deposited in one of the bins was "potentially a life saved"."Weapon surrender bins are continuing to have a significant impact, because they play an important part in keeping people, families, businesses and communities safe here in the West Midlands," he PCC announced the increased number of weapons bins during Knife Crime Awareness Week, taking place from Monday to 8,000 deadly weapons have now been destroyed through the PCC's surrender scheme. The most-used weapon surrender bins in the West Midlands between January and March 2025 have been revealed as:New Testament Church of God, Erdington: 415Morrisons, Black Country Route, Bilston: 104Coventry Central Police Station, Little Park Street: 95New Testament Church of God, Lozells Road, Birmingham: 93St Peter's Collegiate Church, Exchange Street, Wolverhampton: 91Tesco, Town Gate Retail Park, Dudley: 90Morrisons, New Road, Rubery: 86Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre, Solihull: 82Sainsbury's, Freeth Street, Oldbury: 73Duke Street, Stourbridge: 72 People can view their nearest weapon surrender bin in an interactive map on the PCC's of the public wishing to apply to have a new bin placed locally can email wmpcc@ Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire officers pilot home visits in knife amnesty week
A week-long knife amnesty will include home visits from officers for the first time, aimed at people who cannot access police station weapon Cambridgeshire Police amnesty offers people the chance to surrender weapons such as knives and machetes. It also includes knuckledusters, extendable batons, curved swords and zombie weapons, which are now illegal to of weapons offences in Cambridgeshire have increased by 31%, from 312 between April 2023 and March 2024, to 408 between 2024-2025, police said. A record 370 items were handed in during the last amnesty in November, the force added. The home visits are being piloted in some areas of Peterborough, Fenland and East Cambridgeshire. Those interested can get in touch with the force by email, and an officer will arrange a time for collection. Supt Paul Rogerson said: "Regular amnesties continue to be part of our ongoing work to combat knife crime in the county and I am pleased we have a new option available to people this year."Officers will also undertake school visits during the week, while extra patrols will be carried out in "hotspot" areas, targeting those believed to be carrying knives. Supt Rogerson said: "Although our statistics show possession of weapon offences have increased, this doesn't necessarily mean knife crime has done the same."The rise could be due to any number of reasons, for example more pro-active work by officers to tackle the issue, more stop searches, or others having more confidence to report those who carry weapons to us."He added that more than 160 knives were seized as a result of 215 extra stop searches last amnesty bins are in place at Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough and Parkside Police Station in Cambridge. A weapons bin will also be available on 22 May at Sawston Police Station between 10:00 BST and 14:00 - and at Cambourne Police Station between 14:00 and 18:00. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
