Police chief urges parents to bin unwanted knives
Parents have been asked to ensure knives at home are 'as secure as they can be' by a police chief looking to battle knife crime across the county.
As part of Staffordshire Police's knife amnesty, a letter has been sent out to parents asking them to 'just bin' a knife if they don't need it at home to reduce the risk of young people finding and carrying them.
Police chiefs recently warned that violence glorified in television, music and computer games is at the heart of an increase in knives on the streets.
Knife crime in the West Midlands and Staffordshire has increased year-on-year according to latest figures.
In Staffordshire it has gone up from 643 incidents in 2014/15 to 967 cases in 2016/17 - 50 per cent.
And in the West Midlands, it has risen from 388 knife crimes between October and December in 2014, compared to 654 for the same period last year.
To try and decrease the possibility of knife crime amongst younger people, Wayne Jones, chief superintendent of local policing and operations, has written a letter to parents across the county.
It reads: "I am sure you are only too clear of the risks associated with the carrying of knives in public and want yo do everything you can to protect your children.
"Unfortunately the majority of knives and bladed articles that we find young people in possession of have come from their own home, so anything you can do to make sure your knives are as secure as they can be could make a huge difference.
"In every home in the county you will find knives.
"The amnesty is about getting rid of those that are surplus to requirements, particularly those that are ornamental, ex-military or combat styled which could easily ruin or end a life if used recklessly."
People are being urged to bin knives at their local police station, with a full list of bins suitable available at staffordshire.police.uk/bintheblade.
However, Mr Jones urged parents that they weren't receiving his letter due to any concerns about particular schools.
He said: "You are not receiving this letter because your school has a problem with knives.
"We are working with schools across the county to educate children and parents as to the dangers of carrying knives."
