New knife surrender bins have been installed at fire stations across South Yorkshire, as part of a national drive to take dangerous weapons off Britain’s streets.
South Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kilvinder Vigurs, joined Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson at the launch of a bin at Doncaster Fire Station on Tuesday; further bins have been placed at fire stations in Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.
“They form part of a nationwide rollout of 45 surrender bins, agreed locally with violence reduction, policing and community safety partners. More than 15,000 knives and offensive weapons, including ninja swords, zombie-style knives, machetes, swords and kitchen knives, have been handed in across Britain over the past year. The bins operate on a no-questions-asked basis, with weapons required to be wrapped and sealed before being disposed of safely.
Vigurs continued: “Knives have no place on the streets of South Yorkshire. This initiative will give people a safe and anonymous way to hand in weapons in what we see as a positive step that will help to save lives and reduce the risk of harm in our communities. The sheer number of knives that have been handed in nationally shows the importance of having somewhere they can be dropped off with no questions asked. It is just another small way of making people in South Yorkshire safer.”
Devastating impacts on lives
Jameson said: “Knife crime has devastating impacts on lives, families and communities, which is why we must do everything we can to prevent dangerous weapons from ending up on Doncaster’s streets. Surrender bins provide a safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of knives, helping to reduce the risk of harm and support our wider efforts to tackle serious violence. Every weapon handed in is potentially a life saved.”
Lisa Theobald, whose 20-year-old son Ryan was stabbed to death outside a Doncaster nightclub in 2022, joined the launch in support of the scheme. She said: “As a family, we live every day with the loss of Ryan and the devastating impact that knife crime has had on our lives. If these surrender bins help take even one knife off the streets and prevent another family from going through what we have experienced, then they are worthwhile.
“Ryan’s death can never be undone, but I will continue to support anything that helps save lives, raises awareness and makes our communities safer for young people.”
In South Yorkshire, the bins sit alongside wider work by the Violence Reduction Unit, including school education packages, funding for community groups offering alternative activities for young people, and mentoring support for children at risk.
