TOWN IS KNIFE CRIME CAPITAL OF NORTH WARKS

NUNEATON and Bedworth is the knife crime capital of North Warwickshire with almost half of all offences taking place in the borough.

On the day that a four-week long knife surrender campaign gets underway, it has been revealed that 42 per cent of all recorded knife crime in the north of Warwickshire in 2016/17 took place in Nuneaton and Bedworth. It makes the fact that there is knife surrender bin now in place at Nuneaton Police Station even more crucial.

Controversially, when a similar campaign was held in July of last year, Nuneaton station did not initially have a knife bin in place due to security concerns. It caused fury among the community, particularly as the borough has suffered two tragic deaths to stabbings, Morgan Hehir and Gemma Newman. A quick U-Turn was made and a bin was installed a few days later.

Lessons have been learned this time around and the surrender bin will be in place at the Vicarage Street-based station for a month as part of the campaign, dubbed ‘Operation Sceptre.’

Chief Inspector Daf Goddard said: “The Nuneaton community has experienced the devastating impact of knife crime in recent years. It is important that the people of Nuneaton support our campaign and play and it has been stressed that people their part in making the streets of surrendering knives at the station Warwickshire safer. will not have to leave their

“There is a bin at Nuneaton names or any details. But, if Police Station and I police suspect a weapon would urge local people has been used in a crime to take the they will examine it for opportunity to surrender evidence. the Speaking of the weapon.” importance of the

According to campaign, Warwickshire statistics there Police and were 139 recorded Crime Commissioner knife crimes in Philip Seccombe North Warwickshire said: “Knife in 2016/17, which is an crime has a devastating increase of 19 per cent effect on people’s lives – both compared to the figures for 2015/16. for victims, perpetrators, their families

Police are keen for as many weap- and the wider community. ons as possible to be handed over While thankfully knife crime is not commonplace in Warwickshire, it’s still important that we all work together to rid knives from our streets.

“There is no circumstance where carrying a knife as a weapon is acceptable and, while some people wrongly perceive that a knife offers them some kind of protection, in reality it only serves to make them more vulnerable while placing those around them at greater risk.

“Every knife surrendered is one less that can cause death, destruction and misery, so I am very supportive of this campaign. I hope anyone who owns a knife – young or old – will take this opportunity to surrender their weapon and dispose of it safely.”

The community has experienced the devastating impact of knife crime in recent years. It’s important people support our campaign Daf Goddard