Bradford people can surrender weapons in amnesty to tackle knife crime

A knife bin will be installed outside a Bradford police station and the amnesty gives members of the public the chance to dispose of a knife anonymously with no questions asked.

The knife bin, which will be located at Trafalgar House Police Station, Nelson Street, is for anyone who wants to dispose of bladed weapons and other offensive weapons from Monday, April 24 to Friday, April 28.

Bradford is no stranger to knife crime following a number of attacks in recent years, where stabbings resulted in the deaths of residents.  Kian Tordoff was 19 when he died in a stabbing on John Street, Bradford, in October 2021.

Muhammed Mujahid Hussain was also 19 when he died from a stab wound following an incident on Duckworth Lane, Bradford, in April 2021.

In neighbouring Kirklees, 53-year-old Robert Wilson of Birstall was fatally stabbed in the Linthwaite area of Huddersfield in January 2020.

The unveiling of the Knife Angel in Bradford (Image: Newsquest)

The amnesty comes at a time when the Knife Angel statue is on display in Bradford city centre. It is currently located in Centenary Square.

Those surrendering knives or weapons at Trafalgar House Police Station are not required to give any personal details and will not face prosecution for carrying them to surrender. You must travel straight to the police station to surrender them.

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 now makes it illegal to possess offensive weapons in a private place.

A number of offensive weapons have been included in the legislation such as flick knives, knuckle dusters, zombie knives, stealth knives, swordsticks, swords with a curved blade of 50 centimetres or more in length and even blowpipes or blow guns.

Superintendent Richard Padwell, of Bradford District Police< said: “It’s great to see the Knife Angel in Bradford with the hope to raise awareness that carrying a knife is never the answer. 

“Knife crime causes harm to the communities we police and misery to those directly caught up in it. 

“We are committed to working with our partners to prevent and tackle knife crime “We are fully supportive of the knife amnesty as part of the campaign to educate and change behaviours around violent crime.”

Michelle Buchan, Knife Angel Project Lead and team manager at the Bradford Youth Justice Service, said: "It is really important to hold this amnesty as part of the Knife Angel Bradford Project as it coincides with a huge educational programme to address motivations for weapon-carrying.

"Bradford Youth Justice Service are working closely with partners to educate the whole community about the risks and impact of carrying knives which minimises the chances of people being seriously or fatally hurt.

"Every weapon collected in this amnesty is a potential life saved so I would urge people to help us make our streets safer by dropping off their dangerous or unwanted knives and blades at Trafalgar House Police Station during the advertised period."

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin said: “I would urge anybody who carries a knife as a weapon to use this opportunity to dispose of it anonymously during the amnesty.

“The Knife Angel in Bradford is a stark reminder of their fatal consequences. One less knife on our streets can help us avoid more lives being tragically lost to senseless violence.”

Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, added: “We each have a crucial role in turning the tide on knife crime and confronting behaviours that lead to heartbreak for families and communities.

“Please use the knife amnesty in Bradford as an opportunity to remove these deadly weapons from our streets.”

The knife bin will be at Trafalgar House Police Station, Nelson Street, Bradford BD5 0DZ at the helpdesk from Monday, April 24, to Friday, April 28. The opening hours are from 8am to 8pm.  If you need any help please say ‘Knife Angel Surrender’ to helpdesk staff and they will be able to assist.