554 Knives Dumped in GMP’s #ForeverAmnesty Bins Since Lockdown
Police have cleared knife amnesty bins for the first time since lockdown began – and what they found will shock you. A staggering 554 knives were dumped in Greater Manchester’s bins, proving the public is still keen to get weapons off the streets.
#ForeverAmnesty: Fighting Knife Crime for Good
The #ForeverAmnesty, a joint project by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the British Ironwork Centre, has now become permanent. The initiative exploded in popularity after a smashing success in September, aiming to slash knife crime across the region.
Sergeant Paul Nolan from GMP’s Violence Reduction Unit said: “554 knives handed in since February is huge, especially as we didn’t advertise the bins during lockdown. The bins stayed open throughout the pandemic to give people a safe way to ditch weapons if they felt vulnerable.”
He added: “Every knife dropped off is one less weapon on our streets — and one less crime waiting to happen. This isn’t about secrecy. People can safely hand over knives at police stations using our bins, which is working well.”
Big Plans to Slash Violent Crime
The crackdown doesn’t stop with the amnesty. GMP is teaming up with UK Border Force, Royal Mail, and other partners to stop dangerous weapons coming into Greater Manchester. They’re carrying out targeted sweeps to find knives stashed away for crimes.
Sergeant Nolan revealed: “We’re also focusing on education and engagement with young people, aiming to prevent knife crime before it happens. It’s about communities and early intervention.”
Bev Hughes, Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for Policing, said: “The knife amnesty has been fantastic. We’re committed to taking weapons off the streets and tough policing where needed. But we also need to tackle the reasons why people carry knives in the first place.”
She continued: “Our Serious Violence Action Plan will invest £500,000 in community projects across six areas. It’s all about local solutions and working together to keep people safe.”
How You Can Help
The Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, formed in 2019 with Home Office backing, brings together police, local authorities, schools, health services, and youth workers. They are focused on cracking down on violent crime — and preventing it.
- Increasing awareness in schools about the dangers of knife crime
- Supporting young people at risk
- Running targeted police operations to seize weapons and disrupt illegal sales
- Engaging communities to create safer neighbourhoods
If you suspect someone is carrying or hiding a knife, or know of knives concealed in your area, call police on 101 and help rid our streets of these deadly weapons.
