Bid to get weapons off Coventry streets

CITY GETS FIRST BIN TO ‘SAFELY DISPOSE’ OF KNIVES

THE location of Coventry’s first knife bin has now been revealed.

There have been at least eight reported stabbings in the city this year and the West Midlands has seen the biggest increase in knife crime of any part of the country outside London.

In a bid to get knives off the city’s streets, a knife surrender bin will be officially unveiled today at Asda in Whitley.

People will be able to safely dispose of knives in a “legal and safe way”.

The bin is now one of 16 across the West Midlands having been put in place by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson.

Our interactive map below shows the details of reported stabbings across Coventry in the past 12 months:

Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Lynnette Kelly, who is from Coventry, said: “I’m very pleased we have been able to provide a surrender bin for my home city of Coventry.

“The bins give people a safe way to dispose of knives which they shouldn’t be carrying.

“Every knife posted into a surrender bin is potentially a life saved. These bins work best when the community wants them and in Coventry the message we have been receiving loud and clear is that more are needed.” Commenting on the new Coventry bin, Chf Supt Mike O’Hara, the Commander of Coventry Police, said: “This is a really welcome initiative, which will help the police in Coventry tackle the growing problem of knife crime. “It’s very important that people know they have a safe place to dispose of a knife which they shouldn’t be carrying. If we can take knives off the streets of Coventry, then they cannot be used to commit a crime or cause injury. Sadly, knives are very easy to obtain.

“We have to ensure that people, particularly young people, are aware that if they carry a knife then it could be used against them.

“We are working closely with the community to highlight the risks of carrying and using knives and weapons.

“Alongside encouraging the disposal of knives, I would ask the public to give us any information that might help us to protect Coventry’s young people and I would urge them to contact us on 101 or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”