Suffolk: 6,000 Knives Shredded After Amnesty

2 February 2012, 05:00

Knives which were handed in during Suffolk's year-long 'Bin a Blade' knife amnesty have been disposed of safely at Sackers Recycling in Great Blakenham.

Inspired by local anti-knife crime campaigner 18-year-old Holly Watson, the amnesty was started in December 2010, by Holly and Chief Constable Simon Ash. 

Initially three static amnesty bins were put in place outside Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft Police Stations; these were then joined by two mobile bins touring Suffolk's smaller stations and a fourth static bin at Mildenhall Police Station. The mobile bins also visited Kessingland Library and Mid Suffolk District Council's offices in Needham Market. The static bins remain in place now the year has passed.

All the knives collected during the amnesty were stored securely at Sackers and have now been shredded there for free. 

6125 knives were handed in during the amnesty. Some of these knives will be made into an award by local inventor and designer Rex Garrod, he will select knives for his creation prior to the shredding.