A third knife amnesty bin was installed in Greenwich as part of the council’s ‘Let’s Live #KnifeFree’ campaign.
Located in Woolwich town centre, the new bin follows the success of two other amnesty drop-offs in the borough, which have collected 214 weapons since their installation last July.
The amnesty bins are emptied by the council’s charity partner organisation and provider of the bins, Word 4 Weapons, and both Greenwich Borough Council and the local police receive a report of the contents.
A Word 4 Weapons spokesperson said: “Knife-enabled crime has far-reaching and devastating effects.
“It places immense strain on policing efforts, ambulance services, hospitals, communities and society as a whole.
“The fear of knife crime also affects the wider public, creating anxiety and altering how people live their daily lives.
“By removing these weapons from the streets and public spaces, the surrender bins can help local communities feel safer and convey that carrying knives isn’t acceptable or necessary.”
After dropping in 2020, London knife crime has increased yearly since the pandemic.
Greenwich borough saw 414 total knife crime offences in 2022/23, a 7.3% increase from the previous financial year.
The spokesperson claimed knife amnesty bins play a vital role in reducing weapon-related violence, by offering a safe and anonymous method to surrender these weapons.
Across London, 16,583 serious knife-related offences were recorded for the year ending September 2024, up from 14,000 in 2022/23.
Between the same periods, deaths caused by knife crime in the capital have dropped by 17%.
A spokesperson for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Knife crime has no place in our communities.
“Sadiq fully supports measures, including this initiative by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, to help remove dangerous weapons from our streets, preventing tragedies and saving lives.
“But one death is too many.”
Knife crime has profound impacts on young people, with concerns surrounding children as young as 11-years-old carrying knives.
However, the number of young individuals injured by knives is dropping in London, and last year saw the fewest murders of under-25s since 2003.
Word 4 Weapons’ spokesperson explained many young people feel pressured to carry knives, whether for protection, peer acceptance or perceived status.
A rise in violence against women and girls has additionally resulted in more people carrying knives on the streets for protection.
Word 4 Weapons’ spokesperson said: “[It] too often results in tragic consequences.
“We must continue working to change this narrative by offering young people hope, support, and meaningful alternatives.
“This is a troubling reflection of how deeply knife crime is affecting individuals across all areas of society.”
Featured image: Greenwich Borough Council
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