Six-week knife amnesty launches in Derbyshire

A knife amnesty has been launched across Derbyshire to stop weapons falling into the wrong hands.
The knife amnesty will run for six weeks.The knife amnesty will run for six weeks.
The knife amnesty will run for six weeks.

The six-week campaign runs until July 3 and during this time people can deposit knives at secure bins throughout the county.

Assistant Chief Constable Bill McWilliam, of Derbyshire police, said: "Every knife handed in is one less that can potentially be used on the streets of Derbyshire.

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"Young people might think that having a knife is some kind of status symbol or that they need one for protection - but they don’t realise that in 65 per cent of cases, people who carry knives have those weapons used against them.

"Just carrying a knife can result in a prison sentence of up to four years. If you know a friend or family member carries a knife, urge them to surrender it as part of the amnesty or contact police or Crimestoppers. Please don’t stay silent."

Knife bins can be found at the following locations:

- Derby Market Place

- St Mary’s Wharf Police Station, Prime Parkway, Chester Green

- Cotton Lane Police Station, Allenton

- Peartree Police Station, Peartree Road, Normanton

- Ilkeston Police Station, Heanor Road

- Long Eaton Police Station, Midland Street

- Swadlincote Police Station, Civic Way

- Chesterfield Police Station, New Beetwell Street

- Clay Cross Police Station, Pilsley Road

- Ripley Police Station, Wyatt’s Way

- Buxton Police Station, Silverlands

- Buxton Market Place

- Glossop Police Station, Ellison Street

- Matlock Police Station, Bank Road

Ensure the blade is wrapped before depositing it in an bin, using cardboard, bubble wrap or something similar.

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Any knives or blades too large to fit in the bins can be handed in at inquiry offices at St Mary’s Wharf, Chesterfield and Buxton police stations.

In 2015/16, 207 people were arrested in Derbyshire for possessing a bladed article. Of these, 119 were charged and 47 were dealt with by other means.

This compares to 176 arrests in 2015/14 with 112 charges and 45 other positive outcomes.

The amnesty is part of Project Zao, a successful campaign launched in Derby in March to reduce knife crime in the city, which is now being rolled out countywide.

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During the campaign, offices will give talks to schoolchildren about the consequences of carrying knives and work with traders to enforce the message that knives, razors and similar products will not be sold to under-18s.

All surrendered knives will go to the Save a Life Surrender Your Knife project, a scheme run by the British Ironworks Centre. The centre is creating an angel sculpture from knives surrendered across the UK.