Police knife amnesty launched in Shropshire - with videos
A knife amnesty has been launched by police in bid to make Shropshire’s streets safer.
Anyone who wants to hand over a blade can drop it off at West Mercia police stations around the region, including the main stations in Telford and Shrewsbury.
Knives surrendered to Shropshire’s police force during a four-week amnesty will go towards making a plinth for the famous Knife Angel scuplture.
West Mercia Police has launched the amnesty to get people to hand over their blades.
Those leaving knives will not be expected to give their names or any details. Knives handed in that are suspected of being involved in a crime may be examined for evidence.
The four-week long amnesty, part of national campaign called Operation Sceptre, has been launched after Declan Graves, 20, of Dymchurch Road in Liverpool was ordered to serve life in prison, a minimum of 20 years, after he stabbed 16-year-old Michael Warham from Bootle through the heart on the street in Meole Brace.
Michael was stabbed several times and died three days after he was attacked in August 2016.
Though knife crime is relatively low across West Mercia, the force, which covers Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester, is calling for those who carry weapons to think about the potential consequences that having a blade can lead to.
West Mercia Police are launching a four-week long knife surrender campaign aimed at making the streets of the region safer for everyone.
During the campaign anyone can surrender a knife or blade at one of a number of police stations around the region.
This is part of Operation Sceptre, a national operation to reduce knife crime and the number of families affected by knife crime.
People surrendering knives at the stations will not have to leave their names or any details.
But,If police suspect a weapon being handed in has been used in a crime they will examine it for evidence.
Chief Inspector Sharon Cannings said: “While the region doesn’t have a big knife problem we’re keen to play our part in this national campaign to tackle knife crime and the damage it causes to communities.
“Knife crime doesn’t just affect the victims it affects the families of victims and offenders and has a devastating impact on the wider community.
“We want people who carry knives to stop and think about the potential consequences for others and themselves. For the next four weeks people will have the opportunity to surrender those knives anonymously.
“The decision to do so might be the most important decision they ever make.”
The move has been supported by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion.
He added: “While we are fortunate that knife crimes are rare in our communities, just one incident is one too many, and the consequences can be devastating.
“The knife surrender campaign, is just one of many ways in which West Mercia Police is committed to tackling violent crime. I am committed to ensuring they have the resources to keep our communities safe and secure.”
Amnesty knives will make Angel’s plinth
Knives seized by Shropshire’s police force during a four-week amnesty will go towards making a plinth for the famous Knife Angel scuplture.
West Mercia Police has launched the amnesty to get people to hand over their blades.
All the knives surrendered will be added to the monument, which has been created to raise the awareness of knife crime.
All the weapons collected will be given to the British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry to create a plinth for the sculpture.
The 26ft angel sculpture has been made from more than 100,000 knives already collected by police forces around the country.
It is planned to stand the angel in the grounds of the Ironwork centre, overlooking the A5.
During the campaign knife surrender bins will be placed in Shrewsbury and Telford police stations.
People surrendering knives at the stations will not have to leave their names or any details.
But, if police suspect a weapon has been used in a crime they will examine it for evidence.
The long-running Knife Angel project “Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife” was run by the British Ironwork Centre in conjunction with police forces across the whole of England.
Earlier this year the project was jointly awarded the Rotary International Peace Award alongside Médecins Sans Frontières which works to alleviate suffering and protect life in war zones and recently helping refugees crossing the Mediterranean.
Clive Knowles, of the Ironworks Centre, has been petitioning the Mayor of London’s office in a bid to get permission for the monument to be displayed on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square in the capital.
However, his appeal has so far been rejected by the London authorities.
He added: “West Mercia Police have supported and will continue to support the British Ironworks’ effort to raise awareness on the UK wide knife crime dilemma.”
