MORE THAN 1,000 weapons have been taken off the streets of the West Midlands in the last three months in the last three months.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster, revealed the figure after the 30 bins across the region were emptied by specialist teams, with weapons including ninja swords, zombie knives and kitchen knives deposited into the blue bins.
The bins including one at Solihull Railway Station and Coventry Central Police Station on Little Park Street are there to safely dispose of knives, machetes, swords, firearms and other dangerous weapons, with the contents inside collected and later destroyed.
Mr Foster said: “Preventing and tackling knife crime is a top priority for me. That is why I invest in a network of 30 weapons surrender bins across the West Midlands.
“Over a recent three months period 1,036 weapons, including knives, guns and machetes were deposited into these bins. That means fewer dangerous weapons out on the streets of the West Midlands.
“There have been recent welcome reductions in knife crime. However, I am not in the least complacent about that. One victim of knife crime is one too many.
“That is why, I am doubling the number of weapon surrender bins across the West Midlands – so that we can remove more dangerous weapons from the streets – and continue to prevent and tackle knife crime, keep people safe and save lives.”
The bins are funded and owned by the Police and Crime Commissioner and managed by the region’s Violence Reduction Partnership, based in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
For more including the location of the bins click here.
