Manchester must ‘bin the blade’ during GMP’s month-long knife surrender campaign, according to Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd.
The month-long Bin the Blade campaign starts at 8am February 1 and the knives collected will help to create a 15-24 foot tall angel statue in memory of the lives lost to knife crime.
Those surrendering illegal knives will not face prosecution for carrying them and Tony Lloyd has urged the public to use the campaign to build a safer community.
“Knife crime can end lives and devastate families,” said the former Member of Parliament. “I urge the public to support this month of action, make the right choice and bin the blade.
“This amnesty is an opportunity to turn something negative and destructive into a positive, sending a strong message to communities that carrying a weapon is not an option if we are to build safer communities.”
The scheme, which ends at 11:59pm on February 28, aims to support the British Ironwork Centre’s ‘Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife’ initiative which began in Birmingham last August.
Since then the Centre has toured UK cities encouraging young knife holders to surrender their weapons.
However GMP will maintain its zero-tolerance approach which will continue during the leniency – anyone stopped by police in possession of a knife will be arrested as normal.
“One incident of knife crime is one too many,” said Detective Chief Inspector Debbie Dooley of the Integrated Gang Management Unit.
“Although knife crime counts for quite a small fraction of crime in Greater Manchester, like any crime involving weapons it has a devastating effect on people’s lives.
“Knife crime not only impacts on the victims, but their families, friends, neighbours and the local community.”
It has been nine years since the last knife surrender in Greater Manchester and those surrendering weapons will be allowed to remain anonymous.
“I urge people to take this opportunity to bin the blade and watch as something so dangerous is transformed into the beautiful memorial to remember victims,” said Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett.
“We are committed to protecting our communities from violent crime and we hope to have their support throughout February as we work hard to get these weapons off our streets.”
Anyone wishing to surrender weapons is advised to check the opening times of their nearest station by calling 101 or visiting the GMP website.
For updates and further info visit www.gmp.police.uk/bintheblade or search #BinTheBlade on Twitter.
The drop bins will be located at the following venues:
North Manchester: Central Park, Newton Heath M40 5BQ
South Manchester: 2 Grindlow Street, Longsight M13 0LL
Salford: Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 6BA
Tameside: Manchester Road, Ashton-u-Lyne, OL7 0BQ
Stockport: Spectrum Way, Stockport, SK3 0SA
Bolton: Scholey Street, Burnden, Bolton, BL2 1HX
Wigan: Robin Park Road, Wigan, WN5 0UP
Trafford: Talbot Road, Stretford, M32 0XB
Bury: Dunster Road, Bury, BL9 0RD
Rochdale: The Holme, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AG
Oldham: Barn Street, Oldham, OL1 1BR
