Surrey Police is encouraging knife owners to ‘save a life, surrender your knife’ anonymously as part of a national initiative to tackle knife crime.
To enable knife owners to give up their weapons safely without fear of prosecution, knife bins are located at police stations in Guildford, Staines, Reigate and Woking until Monday, 30 January. The force is encouraging people to recognise that carrying a knife does not provide protection; a weapon can be used inadvertently in the heat of the moment, or can be turned against the owner and have life changing effects.
Superintendent Bex Smith said: “If you possess a potentially dangerous knife, please take this opportunity to get rid of your knife safely and anonymously.
“Knives are deadly weapons. Carrying one is illegal and you will be arrested and prosecuted should we catch you with one. Someone carrying a knife is much more likely to get stabbed themselves as situations can quickly escalate.”
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, David Munro said: “We have all seen the devastating effect knife crime can have on people’s lives and I hope this amnesty will help take such deadly weapons off our streets.
“We must continue to raise awareness, particularly amongst young people, that carrying a knife can have the most serious of consequences and poses a serious danger to themselves and others.”
All knives surrendered as part of the amnesty will be given to the British Ironwork Centre and used in a spectacular 20 feet tall angel in memory of those whose lives have been tragically lost to knife crime.