Published: Monday 27th June 2016 | 12.39pm
Staffordshire Police is appealing for people to ‘Bin the Blade’ with a four-week knife surrender, starting at 9am on Monday 27 June 2016.
The surrender, which is being led by Staffordshire Police, alongside Stoke-on-Trent City Council and local authorities across Staffordshire, is in response to a national increase of offences involving knives and blades. This is reflected in Staffordshire with a 26% increase in the use of knives and bladed weapons in all crimes in the 12 months from April 2015 and March 2016 compared to the previous 12 months. Nationally there have been similar increases.
It’s been a decade since the last knife surrender in Staffordshire, where the force asks members of the public to surrender unlawfully held or unwanted knives and bladed weapons to help prevent them falling into the wrong hands.
The four-week surrender, will see safe and secure knife bins available at 18 locations across the county.
During this period, those surrendering knives will not face prosecution for carrying them and they can remain anonymous. However, the force will maintain its zero-tolerance approach which will continue during the surrender - leniency will not be shown to anyone stopped by the police and found to be in possession of a knife. They will be arrested as normal.
The secure bin locations within Cannock Chase District are:
Cannock Police Station, Wolverhampton Road, Cannock WS11 1AW
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Saturday and Sunday - closed
Rugeley Police Station, Anson Street, Rugeley WS15 2BQ
Please press the buzzer for attention