A BIN where people can surrender knives and other deadly weapons has been unveiled in Oldbury.

The bin, which is the 15th to be installed in the West Midlands, will give people a place to safely dispose of weapons.

The latest safe and secure container was put in place on Monday (May 21) at the Sainsbury’s store in Freeth Street, as the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner continues his quest to place a bin in every local authority area.

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PCC David Jamieson said: “The people of Oldbury have been telling us they too would like a weapon surrender bin for some time. I’m delighted to announce that we’ve been able to make this happen.

“This is just one of my initiatives. I’m ensuring that every single day in schools young people are educated about the dangers of knife crime and I am investing in schemes to divert those same people away from violence.

“The bins are providing people with a legal and safe way to dispose of knives. Every knife posted into a surrender bin is potentially a life saved.”

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The bins are just one of the ways the PCC is tackling the increasing problem of knife crime, following a number of fatal stabbings across Sandwell and Dudley over the last 18 months.

They include Tina Billingham, aged 54, from Cradley Heath, who was stabbed twice with a swordstick on February 6, last year, 24-year-old Mansoor Mahmood, who was stabbed in the stomach outside Dixi Chicken on Brierley Hill High Street on October 15, and Ryan Passey, aged 24, who was stabbed in Stourbridge's Chicago's nightclub on August 6.

PC Keith Tedds, who asked for the bin to come to Oldbury, said: “We hope this initiative will help reduce violent crime in Oldbury, as well as give people the opportunity to listen to their conscience by surrendering a knife before it has the chance to potentially hurt them or others.

“We’re offering people the chance to make the right decision and to make Oldbury a safer place for all.”

The other 14 bins have already been placed in Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Birmingham.