This week sees the launch of a new campaign by Wandsworth police to reduce knife-enabled crime in the borough.

An amnesty encouraging people to dispense of their knives begins this week. Surrender bins will be placed outside Wandsworth�s police stations for the dumping of all blades or sharp instruments.

Operation Blunt is a Met-wide initiative and all boroughs will be taking part in anti-knife initiatives to get knives off the streets. Carrying the message that knives can destroy lives as well as communities.

Chief Supt. Joe Royle said: �We want the type of knives and bladed instruments which are designed to be lethal. I�m talking about combat knives, swords, butterfly knives and flick knives. I�m asking for people to do the decent thing and bin the knife.�

Knife enabled crime across the MPS reduced year on year 2004/5 by 15% compared to the previous year. Wandsworth experienced a fall of 5.1% for the same period. Analysis reveals the main reasons for carrying and using weapons are to acquire status, peer influence and to inflict fear and victimise others with intent to scare, steal or harass.

School officers will be addressing pupils on the dangers of carrying offensive weapons and the damage knife wounds can cause.

DI Jess Ruddell, believes that reducing the number of knives on the street will make a dent in the number of knife-enabled robberies. She said: �Not only do we want to tackle the existing problem, but prevent the future purchasing of lethal knives via the Internet and retail outlets.�


The amnesty is expected to last until the end of December and we ask that any knives deposited are wrapped in cardboard or something similar and secured with tape; therefore not able to be used during carriage to an amnesty bin location.

November 22, 2005