New knife amnesty bins show path to a better future

New knife bins installed across Brent, in partnership with the Raheem Sterling Foundation and Word 4 Weapons, are now providing safe places to surrender knives and signposting opportunities for education, employment and social mobility.

Seven new knife amnesty bins were officially unveiled in Brent at an event alongside representatives from the Raheem Sterling Foundation, young people, council and community workers and Word 4 Weapons, the UK’s leading weapons surrender charity.

The knife amnesty bins provide a safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of knives, reducing the risk of them being used as a weapon or to cause harm. The bins align with the Raheem Sterling Foundation’s Power of 7 objectives - social mobility, employment, education, community, creativity, leadership and enterprise.

Alongside information, support and guidance on the bins, people can also scan a QR code. This takes them to a website signposting them to support to help people move away from knife crime and connect them to a more positive path, including mentoring opportunities or getting into work.

The bins are located at:

• Denmark Road, Kilburn
• Wellspring Crescent, Chalkhill
• Neasden Lane, Neasden
• Fortunegate Road, Harlesden
• Old North Circular Road, Monks Park
• Hillside, Stonebridge
• Park Lane, Wembley

Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Public Protection, said: “Sadly knife crime exists across all towns and cities in the UK, and Brent is not immune to this.

“We are proud to be working with the Raheem Sterling Foundation and Word 4 Weapons to install these lifesaving amnesty bins, the first of their kind in Brent, and will continue to work with our partners to raise awareness of where they are located and the support available for those affected by knife crime.

“Every knife taken off our streets is potentially a life saved. If these bins help one person to change their behavior, it will make our community safer.”

Commenting on the partnership, Raheem Sterling said, “I want this project to make a real difference to young people in Brent by guiding them to take positive actions and have better access to a powerful support network of opportunities. Growing up in Brent, I understand the challenges that young people experience every day, I truly hope our work enables change and I’m grateful to all our partners and the organisations supporting us to help improve the lives and increase opportunities for young people.”

It is an offence to have a knife in a public place. If disposing of a knife, or other sharp weapon in one of the amnesty bins, it must first be safely wrapped.

Find out more about the Raheem Sterling Foundation.

Find out more about Word 4 Weapons.