Knife bin installed in Sandwell

A weapon surrender bin has been placed in Sandwell today to help keep battling youth violence.

It's the 24th bin of its kind in the region and has been funded by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

The bins are designed so people can dispose of knives, blades and other dangerous objects in a safe way.

All knives and weapons placed in the bin are destroyed.

Despite knife crime more than doubling in the West Midlands since 2012, thousands of knives have already been placed into bins across Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said: "These bins are just one measure we are taking to get knives off our street.

"The bins are providing people with a legal and safe way to dispose of knives, which they shouldn't be carrying. Every knife placed into a surrender bin is potentially a life saved."

Councillor Danny Millard, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for communities, said: "Taking knives off our street is an effective way of tackling the serious issue of knife crime in our communities.

"I'd like to encourage people with knives they shouldn't be carrying to deposit them safely in this bin, with no questions asked."

The new bin is at Windmill Shopping Centre in Cape Hill.