By Bethany Spence
People are being urged to safely dispose of any potentially harmful knives by handing them over to city officials following the launch yesterday (Mon Feb 12) of an amnesty week by Leicestershire Police.
Here's the knife bin in the reception area of our Mansfield House, #Leicester police station. The knife surrender bins are a key part of our Anti Knife Crime Strategy to take knives off the street and to help keep your community safe. #LivesNotKnives pic.twitter.com/VfsBFEoPsP
— Leicestershire Police (@leicspolice) February 13, 2018
This scheme runs in conjunction with Operation Sceptre, the Home Office’s national week of activity aimed at tackling knife crime and related offences.
The campaign was launched to combat the steadily rising figures of serious weapons-related crimes over the past few years.
The Leicestershire Police scheme coincided yesterday afternoon with a meat cleaver being taken from a man arrested in the city centre by police on patrol.
Just attended Leicester City centre with Taser to assist neighbourhood officers & @LeicsResponse staff locate Male with a knife. Neighbourhood team see another Male wanted on warrant & arrest him, when arrested he had this on him!! #teamwork #result #joblikenoother 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/Tn3GQLrW9u
— Leicestershire Roads Policing Unit (RPU) (@LeicsPoliceRPU) February 12, 2018
Anyone in possession of any dangerous weapons can hand them in to the weapons bins located in the front offices of police stations in places such as Wigston, Spinney Hills, and the city centre.
Those who volunteer their arms will not be punished for possession, as long as they have not been used in any criminal activities.
In 2016, a similar amnesty ended with the collection of a total of 193 knives, ranging from machetes, samurai swords and meat cleavers from the streets of Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
All knives collected from police forces across the UK were then used by Shropshire artist, Alfie Bradley, to create a 26ft Knife Angel Sculpture to highlight the issue. It is still on display today at the British Ironwork Centre.
