An arsenal of more than 800 knives, knuckle-dusters, bullets, swords and even a bayonet are to be destroyed after a network of weapon surrender bins were emptied.
The grim haul of weaponry has been accumulated across 19 bins operated by the West Midlands police and crime commissioner’s office.
Knife crime has more than doubled in the region since 2012 and the bins are just one part of a tapestry of policing measures aimed at tackling violent and gang-related crime.
The items ranged from ordinary kitchen knives and scissors to so-called “zombie” knives, with serrated blades, and a rusty bayonet.
Short swords, cleavers, axes, knuckle-dusters and live ammunition were also recovered and will now all be safely disposed of.
Waheed Saleem, West Midlands deputy police and crime commissioner, said: “Worryingly knife crime has been rising across the country during the last decade and people are understandably concerned.”
Mr Saleem, speaking amid a display of the weaponry recovered, added: “This is just an example of the weapons we have taken off the streets.
“We’ve seen all sorts of different knives, knuckle-dusters - axes, even - that have been taken off the streets.
“That’s important, because we need to keep our communities safe.
“We’ve seen these knives could have been used in crime.”
Mr Saleem added that anything which reduced the number of weapons on the streets was a good thing, saying “a knife can take a life”.
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