Legal News

Sandwell Council in the West Midlands has launched a knife surrender bin on West Bromwich High Street, to enable people to voluntarily give up weapons and help save lives.

The launch comes as Sandwell's six-week Safer 6 campaign moves its focus to West Bromwich.

Thousands of weapons have been collected already under the Word 4 Weapons programme – which was first set up in London and has now expanded to the West Midlands with support from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

By voluntarily giving up weapons in secure bins, people can help save lives and reduce the fear of being injured or killed on the streets, says the council.

Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper said:

“We must all do what we can to tackle the serious issue of knife crime – the culture of carrying a weapon is one we must try to eradicate.

“This bin gives people who have them an opportunity to deposit them in a safe way, without fear of prosecution.

”Although knife crime isn't seen as a major issue in West Bromwich and the wider Black Country, it's so easy for a fight to escalate into a very dangerous situation if someone's carrying a weapon.

“For yourself, your family and the wider community, please use this bin and get the knife out of your life,” Mr Cooper added.

The campaign is being supported by West Bromwich Town Business Improvement District (BID) team.

A spokesman for the BID team said:

“The town is a thriving high street – and we want our shoppers to feel safe.”

Founder of Birmingham Empowerment Forum, Desmond Jaddoo, added:

“We are pleased to be able to assist – and thank Sandwell Council for locating this, our fourth community knife surrender bin, which is now the twelfth bin in the West Midlands.

“It is not a case of being reactive, but proactive in efforts to ensure that we all play our collective part in making our communities safer for all – while echoing the constant message ‘Lives Not Knives’.”

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, Yvonne Mosquito attended the launch and said:

“The knife bins give people a place to safely off-load items, which could instead destroy lives.

“I would like to express my thanks to the organisations that have agreed to host the bins – and for everybody who is helping to spread the message that the carrying of weapons is never acceptable in our communities.

“It is entirely due to this groundswell of support from the community that the bins have achieved these results.

“Over the last few months, more than 400 knives and other weapons have been disposed of in bins across the West Midlands.

“That is why I am particularly pleased that a new bin has opened in Sandwell, to get even more weapons off our streets.”

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Duncan Lewis crime lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge involving violent crime – including knife crime, gun crime, firearms offences, gang crime, murder, rape, GBH/ABH, assault, domestic violence and robbery with violence.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide, including offices in most major cities. A criminal defence lawyer can usually reach a police station for interview under caution within an hour.

For expert legal advice on violent crime and knife crime offences at any stage of a charge, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

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