Sharp Shock: Blades handed to police in knife amnesty
Nearly 80 blades handed to police since September
SHOCKING pictures of more than 75 blades dumped in a knife bin at Uxbridge Police Station have been revealed by Hillingdon Police.
The bins were set up in police stations in Hillingdon last February and people were encouraged to surrender their knives as part of a Metropolitan Police campaign to cut out knife crime.
Hillingdon Police revealed the figures during a week-long push to target those who carry knifes, which started on Monday January 23.
Borough commander for Hillingdon, Colin Wingrove, said: “We are working hard to take knives off our streets, educate young people and bring to justice those who use them. Our message is clear, don’t carry a knife. You are risking lives and your liberty when you do.”
A knife bin was installed at Uxbridge Police station, in Warwick Place, in September.
It followed an incident reported in the Gazette in the month previously when a woman was shocked to be turned away by officers when she tried to hand in a knife she had found in a park.
Officers refused to take the blade and instead suggested she deposit the knife at Hayes Police Station, around four miles away.
As part of the campaign, schools officers are working with young people to highlight the dangers of carrying knives.
Operation Sceptre is the Met-wide initiative where officers carry out weapons sweeps, intelligence led stop and searches as well as promoting knife bins and executing operations to arrest those wanted in connection with kniferelated and violent crimes.
Initially launched in July 2015, the operation has seen at least 793 people arrested during six weeks of action.