Calls for permanent knife bins for Teesside schools after 106 weapons handed in
Cleveland Police took part in a national amnesty and 106 weapons, including meat cleavers, machetes and swords, were handed in.
A Redcar knife campaigner is calling for permanent knife bins to be installed in Teesside schools and colleges after 106 knives were surrendered in just one week.
Machetes, hunting knives and meat cleavers were among the sharp objects handed in to Cleveland Police during a national knife amnesty, which took place last week.
Amongst the 106 items that were handed in to police stations across Cleveland were swords, machetes, flick knives, lock knives, hunting knives, meat cleavers, butterfly knives, scissors, kitchen knives and even a BB gun.
Theresa Cave lost her son Chris to a stabbing in Redcar in 2003 and now runs the Chris Cave Foundation and runs the POINT7 anti-knife programme.
She wants to see even better education to compliment amnesties like this one.
She said: "I believe that colleges and schools, anywhere with a secure corner, where the kids can go and drop in a knife would be wonderful.
"I've spoken to people who carry knives. I've done the programme with young people.
"I've seen them outside before they come into the programme passing the knife to their mate, to hold for them while they're watching the programme.
"There are knives out there, they are going to be used and someone else is going to be killed."
Chief Inspector Emily Harrison said: “We are extremely pleased with the results of the knife amnesty as it means that there are far fewer potentially dangerous objects on the streets of Cleveland now that these items have been handed in.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Barry Coppinger, added: “I am happy that members of the public have participated in this campaign by handing in their knives and sharp objects. Keeping our communities safe is at the heart of what we do and we are a step closer to achieving this when we have the support of people during campaigns like this one.”
If you have information about knife crime please contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
You can find out more details about the Chris Cave Foundation HERE.