"Put the knives down": Knife surrender event to be held in Gloucester
It's in response the the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Ramarni Crosby
People in Gloucester are being given another opportunity to surrenders knives and weapons at an event in the city tonight.
It's in response to the fatal stabbing if 16-year-old Ramarni Crosby on Wednesday 15 December.
The teenager was involved in an incident in Stratton Road shortly after 6pm where he was stabbed and died at the scene.
Three teenagers, aged 15,16 and 17 and who can't be named for legal reasons have been jointly charged with his murder.
A Community Calls for Action
A new Facebook group called "Put the knives down Gloucester" has already gained around 5,000 members and is calling for an end to violence on the streets.
Group members have already begun coming forward to voluntarily hand in knives and other weapons.
No Questions Asked
Officers will be in Gloucester Park from 6pm to 8pm this evening along with several weapon surrenders bins.
People can safely hand over any weapons they have completely anonymously which will then be destroyed.
Before coming to the event with any bladed item to hand in, members of the public are advised to use a few sheets of newspaper or cardboard to wrap it up ensuring that there is enough material to prevent it piercing through.
It should also be sealed with sticky tape to stop the blade being easily removed or falling out of the wrapping.
What do the police say?
Local Policing Team Inspector Ash Shingler said: "Following the outpouring of grief after Ramarni's death people in Gloucester have come together in a call to disarm and show how the city totally rejects violence on our streets.
"The creation of the 'Put the Knives Down Gloucester' Facebook group is an example of this, with group members already coming forward spontaneously to hand in knives and weapons.
"We wanted to provide an easy opportunity for others to take knives off our streets and remove the risk of them being used in crime.
"Following the surrender, the surrender bins will remain in the reception areas of Bearland and Barton Street police stations and people will still be able to go to to those stations to hand in any weapons."
A recent knife surrender across the county following the conviction of a boy for the fatal stabbing of Dursley teenager Joshua Hall saw over 300 knives handed in countywide.