People in Northamptonshire urged to hand in knives during month-long amnesty

During March, anyone can drop off a knife in a designated ‘blade bin’ without fear of prosecution.

The mobile police station will be in specific locations in the county during the next few weeks with one of the bins.

Knifes can be dropped into one of these bins, or a scheduled appointment can be made by calling 101, and arranging for a police officer to come and take the knife away.

The campaign is part of Operation Limit, the force’s crackdown on violent crime, and also forms part of the national ‘Save a life’ campaign being run nationally.

Superintendent Mick Stamper, head of Northampton Operational Command Unit, said the force was also urging people to hand in any flares of incapacitant sprays as part of the amnesty.

He said: “The knife amnesty is intended to make our streets safer. In the wrong hands a knife is a deadly weapon.

“The knife bins will enable members of the public to surrender knives safely and anonymously and in turn remove the risk of these weapons being used to hurt people.

“We are also urging that flares or incapacitant sprays are handed in; these are illegal in this country and can cause a great deal of harm.

The knifes from forces across the country will be melted down to create an angel statue in Trafalgar Square in memory of those who have lost their lives to knife crime.

The sculptor, Alfie Bradley, said the statue would show ‘the emotion and pain of using knives’.

The mobile police station will be in Bugbrooke High Street on Tuesday, March from midday to 3pm, Daventry Tesco the day after from 1pm to 4pm and at

Market Street, Wellingborough from 8am to 2pm on Friday, March 13.

On Friday, March 13, the police station will be at the Fire Station in Long Buckby from 2pm to 4pm and in Market Street in Wellingborough from 10am to 4pm.

On Saturday, March 14, it will be at the Community Centre in Moulton, from 10am to 1pm. Tesco in Brackley from 1pm to 4pm and Waitrose in Rushden from 11am to 2pm.

Finally, the mobile station will be at the Community Centre, Deanshanger, from 1pm to 4pm on Monday, March 16.

Anyone with information about knife crime and anti-social behaviour in Northamptonshire is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.