Harlow: Temporary knife bin for town’s Knife Angel

A temporary knife bin has been fitted next to the Knife Angel sculpture in Harlow to encourage residents to safely dispose of knives.

The Knife Angel sculpture was created by artist Alfie Bradley entirely from knives confiscated across the UK. It is a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime and the need for collective action to address this issue.

The temporary knife bin will be in Playhouse Square until 30 September, when the Knife Angel will move to Colchester.

It joins the knife bin outside the town’s police station in The High and the other 13 knife bins in towns and cities across our county where you can safely deposit knives and other bladed articles.

They are funded jointly by the Office of the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC), Essex Police and the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU).

We also work with the Ben Kinsella Trust to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying a knife.

We empty all our knife bins regularly and the contents are taken to a secure location to be destroyed. During the past year around 24,000 knives and other sharp objects and weapons, weighing a total of two tonnes, have been surrendered in our knife bins across Essex.

In the 12 months to 31 July 2023, 1,510 knife-enabled offences were recorded in Essex, a drop of 11.9% from the 1,714 offences recorded during the 12 months to 31 July 2022. *

Detective Inspector Clayton Ford, from our Serious Violence Unit, says:

“Our knife bins are available to the public 24/7 to deposit knives and other weapons safely and have proved very effective in collecting and removing thousands of knives each year from our streets, homes and communities so they can do no harm.
“Knife-enabled crime is falling across Essex but, of course, there is more to do to reduce the number of tragedies involving knife injuries.
“Our officers are focused on identifying offenders who use knives and will use their stop and search powers if they suspect someone is carrying one.
“They also use knife arches and the Open Gate system to deter people from carrying knives in public.
“However, we can’t tackle this issue on our own because it requires behaviour to change.
“So, we work with partner agencies to try to find solutions. These include the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit, the Ben Kinsella Trust and other local organisations, such as education, health, local authorities and probation services.
“We need our young people to understand that carrying a knife is more likely to put themselves at risk of being hurt or hurting someone else than it is to protect them.
“We need communities to stand up and say that carrying a knife is wrong and we need people to stop carrying knives in the first place.”

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, adds:

“I really admire the work Essex Police and the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit do together with organisations such as the Ben Kinsella Trust.
“They all help make our streets safer. Reducing violence on our streets is one of our key priorities.
“A knife placed in one of these bins is another knife off our streets which might otherwise be used to cause someone serious harm or potentially worse. These bins are part of our commitment to reducing knife crime and have contributed to the recent 64% decrease in knife-enabled homicides in the 12 months to July this year.
“Not only do these bins allow dangerous weapons to be safely disposed of but their visible presence in the heart of our town centres also serves to raise awareness of the very real danger posed by those carrying knives.”

* These figures are based on Home Office Serious Violence crime types.

 

If you have information about someone who carries a knife or who has committed a crime, you can tell us by reporting it online where you can also speak to a Live Chat operator. Alternatively, you can ring 101.

If it’s an emergency or a crime is in progress, ring 999.

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, online or on 0800 555 111.

If you’ve been a victim of crime or anti-social behaviour, and are feeling mentally impacted by it, contact Victim Support on 0808 1689 111.

Working to tackle knife crime

Our knife bins are, of course, just one element of our wider approach to tackling knife crime.

Our operational focus includes ‘hotspot’ policing, educational inputs with partners, intelligence-gathering, using knife arches and the Open Gate system, and utilising additional powers such as dispersal orders and Section 60 powers, which are an extension of our regular stop and search activity.

We also work with partner agencies and charities to help divert people involved in, or at risk of being involved in, knife and violent crime or gang membership away from such lifestyles towards sports, education, volunteering and rehabilitation.

Research shows that carrying a knife doesn’t offer protection, in fact it increases the likelihood that an individual might be stabbed. Every time someone leaves a knife in a knife bin, they are making a positive decision to live knife-free, keeping themselves and those around them safe.

This is why we, the VVU and the OPFCC have partnered with the Ben Kinsella Trust, which was founded by actress Brooke Kinsella following the fatal stabbing of her 16-year-old brother Ben in an unprovoked attack on 29 June 2008 in north London.

One of the leading anti-knife charities, the trust campaigns against knife crime and for action and justice for those affected by it, working with more than 4,000 young people each year, educating them so they can make positive choices to stay safe and not stray into crime.

Where you can dispose of weapons in Essex

We have a knife bin in every district council area. Check to find your nearest one:

• Basildon Police Station, Great Oaks SS14 1EJ
• Braintree Police Station, Blyth’s Meadow CM7 3DJ
• Brentwood Town Hall, Ingrave Road CM15 8AY
• Canvey Island Police Station Long Road, SS8 0JD
• Chelmsford Police Station, New Street CM1 1NF
• Clacton Police Station, Beatrice Road CO15 1ET
• Colchester Police Station, Southway CO3 3BU
• Grays Police Station, Brook Road, RM17 5BX
• Harlow Police Station, The High, CM20 1HG
• Harwich: The Dovercourt and Harwich Hub, 276 High Street CO12 3PD.
• Loughton Police Station, High Road IG10 4BE
• Maldon: Promenade Park Coach and Car Park, Park Drive 5JG
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• Rayleigh Police Station, High Street SS6 7QB
• Southend Police Station, Victoria Avenue SS2 6ES

Making the right choices and keeping safe

Find out more about the work of the Ben Kinsella Trust at benkinsella.org.uk where you will find resources for young people, for teachers and practitioners and for parents about knife crime, making the right choices and keeping safe.