National Knife Amnesty Launched

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Surrender bins have been placed outside local police stations

Wandsworth police have placed knife surrender bins outside their five police stations to support the National Knife Amnesty campaign. 

The first national knife amnesty for over 10 years was launched on Wednesday, 24 May, and people are being encouraged to hand in their knives and bladed instruments at their local police station including the one at Putney.

The National Knife Amnesty is one of many tactics the Government and police are using to prevent knife crime and make our communities safer and every weapon handed in during the amnesty will be a weapon that cannot be used in crime. People need to know that carrying a knife is illegal and won't be tolerated. The maximum prison sentence for knife possession is four years.

Ian Johnston, ACPO lead on crime and Chief Constable of British Transport Police, said:

"Knives are very dangerous and it is unlawful to carry them for protection. People have been seriously injured or killed by knives in circumstances where those convicted state they had no intention of hurting anyone. Our message is simple - don't carry knives for protection; it is unlawful and it is dangerous.�

However, if you bin your knife at police station during the amnesty (May 24 - June 30) you won't be prosecuted.  A criminal record can affect the rest of your life - it may prevent you from getting a job, going to university or college or even travelling abroad to some countries.

In December 2005 Operation Blunt - the Met's response to knife crime - was launched with the objectives of reducing knife-enabled crime in London and reducing the number of people, particularly teenagers, who routinely carry knives. Since then we have carried out dozens of operations resulting in 100s of arrests and the recovery and surrender of over 2000 knives.

Commander Alf Hitchcock, of the Metropolitan Police Service and in overall charge of Operation Blunt said: "We are supporting the National Knife Amnesty with a range of proactive enforcement operations and prevention and education initiatives. We are working extremely hard with schools and colleges to raise awareness about the dangers of carrying knives.

June 9, 2006