Knives: Amnesties

(asked on 13th January 2026) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to publicise the locations of their weapon surrender bins.


Answered by
Lord Hanson of Flint Portrait
Lord Hanson of Flint
Minister of State (Home Office)
This question was answered on 27th January 2026

The Government did not fund and provide surrender bins prior to 2025, when the Government funded 37 surrender bins, with 33 bins located in London, 1 in Greater Manchester and 3 in the West Midlands to support the extended knife surrender scheme held in July last year.

A total of 2,787 knives and weapons were deposited in the surrender bins.

Since the installation, one bin in London has been vandalised by graffiti.

The maintenance costs in 2025/26 for the surrender bins is £32,500 which includes the collection and disposal of surrendered weapons.

In relation to the impact of the surrender bins, the data the Government published demonstrates that they are being well used. The Government promoted the use of the surrender bins during the extended surrender arrangements and is continuing to encourage their use through engagement with the relevant local authorities and community safety leads.

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