184 KNIVES AND 2 GUNS EMPTIED FROM KNIFE BINS

The 12 bins in our region, which have just been emptied, offer people a place to dispose of weapons safely. Two of the guns, which were found in a community led bin in Small Heath, are revolvers and were discovered complete with 8 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The BB guns were found in Heath Town in Wolverhampton. West Midlands Police are also working to take weapons off the streets as part of a separate gun surrender and week of activity to tackle knife crime.  
 
Knife surrender bins have been rolled out across the West Midlands. There are 8 bins in Birmingham, 3 in Wolverhampton and 1 in West Bromwich. The bin with the most knives in it was in West Bromwich.



West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: "Every weapon deposited in a knife bin in our region is one fewer on the streets. I'm pleased to say all the knives and guns will now be destroyed.

"These bins are only successful if the community supports them and I would like to thank everyone who deposited a weapon, or encouraged someone else to do so, for doing the right thing.

"Our streets are safer as a result of these bins. If anyone out there has a weapon - or knows someone who does - I would urge them to get rid of it in a surrender bin as soon as possible."
 
In West Bromwich a knife bin was emptied containing 94 knives or sharp objects. The most of any bin. Councillor Syeda Khatun, Sandwell Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for neighbourhood and communities, said: "I'm pleased and relieved to hear these knives are now off Sandwell's streets thanks to this weapons surrender bin.

"The consequences of carrying a weapon can be devastating for individuals, families and the wider community.

"I hope more people will be encouraged to come forward to surrender weapons they may be carrying, because an incident can easily become very serious, and even fatal, when knives are involved."

Michael Smith, Founder and CEO of Word 4 Weapons, the organisation which supplies some of the West Midland knife bins said: "Word 4 Weapons is pleased to be working with the office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, in their efforts to reduce knife and gun crime in the West Midlands area.  

"Since 2014 we have worked successfully alongside the PCC's office by providing safe and secure Knife Bins for the collection and disposal of deposited weapons.

"The partnership has resulted in the removal of a significant amount of weapons from the streets, as well as co-ordinating the delivery of our anti-knife and gun crime workshops to a number of schools in the area.   It is our aim to continue educating young people both in the West Midlands and nationally, on the dangers of knife and gun crime. In addition we aim to further promote the roll-out of our Knife Bins across the UK."
 
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A list of contents found in the bins is below:
 
Birmingham: 61 knives and 2 revolvers
Wolverhampton: 29 knives and 2 BB guns
West Bromwich: 94 knives

For a full list of the knife bins click here