New knife amnesty bin installed in Newmarket

The installation of a new knife amnesty bin in Newmarket this week brings the total in Suffolk to 10.

The new bin in Exning Street, outside the leisure centre, has been installed during a national, week-long campaign to shine a spotlight on reducing knife crime and serious violence through education, engagement, prevention and enforcement.

The Sceptre campaign aims to highlight the risks that carrying a bladed weapon can bring, as well as intensified activity to target offenders who use and carry knives.

Officers across the county will use intelligence-led deployments, weapons sweeps and high-visibility patrols to target and disrupt offenders who carry and use knives. This is part of ongoing work with partners to tackle crime gang and associated gang activity.

Police are working with partners, local businesses and also working closely with schools and colleges to educate on the dangers of carrying a knife.

Sergeant Jamie Vincent said: “Carrying a knife or any other weapon does not keep you safe; instead it puts you and other lives at greater risk of injury and violence.

“This week we will be highlighting the work we do year-round with partners, educating settings, community groups and businesses to understand how we can tackle the root causes of knife crime and associated criminality to ensure our local communities remain safe.

“Reducing the accessibility of knives is key and the sale of knives online is currently being examined by the Home Office. It is illegal to sell a knife to anyone under the age of 18 and officers will also be visiting local retailers this week to remind them of their responsibility around the safe sale of knives.

“Suffolk Constabulary will continue to take robust action to those who break the law and remain committed to proactively tackling knife crime and violent offending.”

If you know someone is carrying a knife, purchasing one or that someone is being exploited to do so, call Suffolk police on 101, report it online or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency.

There are now 10 knife amnesty bins in Suffolk which provide an opportunity to dispose of a weapon anonymously and with no questions asked:

• Three in Ipswich (Alderman Park – on the junction of Sir Alf Ramsay Way and Constantine Road, Queen’s Way and Bramford Road);
• at police stations in Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury, Haverhill, at the emergency services hub in Mildenhall and in Stowmarket at the junction of Stricklands Road and Ipswich Street;
• a  new bin has been installed in Newmarket this week on Exning Road, outside the Leisure Centre.