West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson is launching a Weapons Surrender to help remove dangerous items from the streets.
The launch will take place at the Sports Hub Perry Barr, Holford Drive, Perry Barr, B42 2TU at 12.30 prompt on Thursday 11th February.
The surrender will be focussed on Birmingham after a spike in the number of incidents involving guns during recent months. People will be encouraged to ‘bin’ weapons of all descriptions during a six-month period using existing secure knife bins.
Ahead of the Weapons Surrender, Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “This Weapons Surrender will give people a place to safely offload items, which could have very easily destroyed lives. This initiative will only be successful if the community backs it.
“I would like to express my thanks to the organisations that host the knife bins and for everybody who is helping to spread the message that the carrying of weapons is never acceptable in our communities.
“My overwhelming message is that disposing of your weapon in a ‘bin’ will probably be the best decision you’ll ever make.
“The message is clear, don’t carry a weapon, it is no way to protect yourself and ultimately there is a much greater chance that it will put you in even more harm.”
Bishop Derek Webley, who helped launch the first knife bins as a community initiative in 2014, said: “I fully support the weapons surrender. The recent knife surrender led to hundreds of knives been handed in was only successful because the community bought into it. We need that same engagement from the community with this weapons surrender.
“One weapon carried is one weapon too many, one life taken by the use of a gun or knife is one life too many, therefore those who want to dispose of any weapon in a safe place should have the opportunity and the facility to do so.”
Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: “The surrender bins have been in place across the region for a number of years: they have never been damaged or compromised in any way. They are an extremely useful tool as we continue to tackle violent crime in the West Midlands and we fully support this initiative.”
Locations of secure bins where weapons can be surrendered in Birmingham:
• New Testament Church Of God, New Spring Street Hockley
• New Testament Church Of God, 240-244 Lozells Road Birmingham
• New Testament Church of God, Goosemore Lane, Erdington
• Tesco, Ruston Street, Five Ways, Edgbaston
• Aldi, 273 Stratford Road, Sparkbrook
• Tesco, 278-299 Aston Lane, Birmingham
• The Sports Hub Perry Barr, Holford Drive, Perry Barr
• Cannon Street Memorial Baptist Church, 330 Soho Road, Handsworth
• Green Lane Masjid, 20 Green Lane, Small Heath
The same knife bins will now be used to encourage people to submit all weapons in.
The surrender will last for six months.
Weapon Surrender Q and A:
Bin security – Each bin is securely locked and are fully insured for weapons to be deposited within. These bins will be emptied routinely and no bin has ever been broken into. The bins were designed for this purpose and are extremely safe.
Police Stations – If an individual wishes to hand a weapon in at a Police Station, they can still do this where the staff will accept the weapon from the member of the public. If surrendering a weapon at a station can the individual have the items contained in a bag/box as not to cause alarm to other members of the public or staff at the location.
Collection of weapons – If an individual due to frailty, infirmity or other reasons has a weapon but are unable to deposit in the weapons bin or visit a police station they can call 101 where officers will be sent to their home address.
Persons found carrying a weapon in public – If a person is found in possession of a weapon whilst in the public domain an arrest will ensue.
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