14,500 weapons surrendered in London knife amnesty since July 2025
Home Office-backed bins in London, Greater Manchester and West Midlands collect knives and machetes under no-questions-asked scheme
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More than 14,500 knives and other weapons have been handed into Home Office-backed surrender bins across London and other major UK cities since July 2025. The scheme, which operates on a no-questions-asked basis, has collected zombie-style knives, kitchen knives and machetes from 37 static bins in London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
The Home Office announced on 10 October that eight additional bins have been installed in South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, bringing the total to 45. The new bins are located in Barnsley, Sheffield, Leeds and Wakefield. A mobile surrender van, operated by the charity Fazamnesty, has also collected 783 weapons since the scheme began.
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Knife crime falls as scheme expands
Home Office figures show knife-related homicides have fallen by 26% since the July 2024 general election. Overall knife crime has dropped by 11% over the same period, while knife-enabled robberies have decreased by 16%. Policing minister Sarah Jones said the surrender scheme was making communities safer.
Every dangerous weapon that has been surrendered so far is a weapon off our streets and a community made that little bit safer. That’s why we’re going further and making it easier for more people in more places to do the right thing and hand over their knives.
Sarah Jones, Policing Minister
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Jones added that the government remains committed to halving knife crime within a decade. The surrender bins are managed by the charity Word 4 Weapons, which also operates the mobile van. Both services allow people to hand in knives anonymously, without fear of legal consequences.
Campaigner welcomes milestone
Pooja Kanda, whose 16-year-old son Ronan was killed in a knife attack in Wolverhampton in 2022, welcomed the scheme’s progress. Ronan was yards from his home when he was stabbed with a ninja sword in a case of mistaken identity. Kanda campaigned for Ronan’s Law, which banned ninja swords in 2024.
Kanda said the surrender scheme provided young people and others carrying weapons with a safe opportunity to dispose of them. She added that the milestone marked an important step in preventing further harm, coinciding with the first anniversary of Ronan’s Law.
What happens next
The Home Office has not announced further expansions of the surrender bin scheme. However, the government has reiterated its commitment to reducing knife crime by half within a decade. Residents can locate their nearest surrender bin through local police forces or the charities managing the scheme.
Questions this report answers
+How many weapons have been handed into surrender bins since July 2025?
More than 14,500 weapons, including knives and machetes, have been surrendered in Home Office-backed bins since July 2025. The scheme operates in London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, with 37 static bins and a mobile van collecting weapons.
+Has knife crime fallen since the surrender scheme began?
Yes, knife-related homicides have fallen by 26% and overall knife crime by 11% since the July 2024 general election, according to Home Office figures. The surrender scheme is part of the government’s efforts to reduce knife crime by half within a decade.
+Where are the new surrender bins located?
Eight new surrender bins have been installed in South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, including in Barnsley, Sheffield, Leeds and Wakefield. This brings the total number of bins to 45, expanding the scheme beyond London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
+Can people hand in knives without fear of prosecution?
Yes, the surrender bins operate on a no-questions-asked basis, meaning people can hand in knives anonymously without legal consequences. The scheme is managed by charities Word 4 Weapons and Fazamnesty, which also runs a mobile surrender van.
News London Desk
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