Amnesty bins reduce knife crime across the Rochdale borough

Three months after their introduction, knife amnesty bins outside Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale police stations have already made a significant impact in the fight against knife crime in the borough.

Funded by Rochdale Borough Council, these bins allow the public to dispose of knives discreetly and anonymously.

The initiative was driven by the determination of local police officers, led by Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Jenny George. It followed the tragic murder of 17-year-old Callum Riley in September 2022.

Callum's killers were sentenced in June 2024, and his death sent shockwaves through the community.
 

Read more: Men jailed for life for “senseless and violent” murder of teenager Callum RileyPublished: 05 June 2024

Officers knew action was needed to prevent similar tragedies. Through extensive research, funding, and feedback from residents, the amnesty bins became a reality.

The project was fully endorsed by Callum's family, particularly his mother, who expressed hope that something positive could emerge from their heartbreak.

The bins, designed with safety and security in mind, feature a closed chute wide enough for all types of knives and a mechanism to prevent retrieval.

Before the bins were installed, Rochdale police station’s single indoor amnesty bin saw an average of 60 knives surrendered per quarter.

In the first three months of the outdoor bins' use, 119 knives were handed in – double the previous number.

PCSO Jenny George said: “As officers, we always want to serve and protect our community. We join this profession with empathy to make a difference.

"Knife crime is a significant issue that affects so many people, so providing a safe space for those to anonymously use it means that if it prevents further violence and protects someone from the devastating effects, it is well worth it.

“In the coming months, we are hoping designs, with input from our community, will be placed on the bins to further highlight how this initiative is about us all working together to prevent knife crime.

"It’s heart-warming how we’ve all come together after something so tragic. We know our work continues, but it is far more than enforcing and arresting people, it is about educating and helping our younger generation understand the severe consequences if they choose to carry a knife.”

Councillor Daalat Ali, deputy leader and cabinet member for public health and communities for Rochdale Borough Council, said: “As a result of receiving over 1,200 responses from a young people’s knife crime survey, our council’s community safety service worked together with young people to develop and introduce a short film called Silence the Violence and installed amnesty knife bins outside the three police stations in our borough.

“Our young people, with their feedback, also directly informed other serious violence prevention programmes, such as a knife crime virtual reality programme delivered in schools across the borough as part of our wider reducing serious violence approach.

“We want to create a place that we can all take pride in, and with our recently funded initiatives to prevent and reduce serious violence within our borough, working together with GMP on a number of engagement events around knife crime and amnesty projects means that we are nearer to achieving this aim.”

The initiative is part of a broader effort to tackle knife crime and promote safety across Rochdale. With continued community involvement and innovative strategies, the borough is striving to create a safer environment for all residents.