Greater Manchester Police is All Set to Fight Knife Crime with Wybone

Following the UK government’s nationwide order to surrender zombie knives and machetes safely and legally, police departments across the UK are encouraging citizens to turn in these dangerous weapons.

The decision came into play owing to a sharp rise in knife crimes to over 50,000 across the UK between June 2023-24. Knife crime emerged as a big threat to the public in England and Wales due to isolation and the effect on mental health following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enter Wybone! Greater Manchester Police visited us in Spring with a request to design bins for depositing larger weapons. We designed and delivered three Knife Surrender Amnesty Bins which were introduced at Heywood Police Station during their Community Fun Day on August 10, 2024. In collaboration with the Rochdale Community Safety Team, the Heywood Neighbourhood Policing Team has installed these permanent knife surrender bins outside key police stations across the borough: Heywood, Middleton, and Rochdale Police Stations.

Police officers and parents engaging with children during the event. The scene conveys a sense of unity and community support, with everyone enjoying the day.

More fun and games!
The event day saw a footfall of 600 people from the neighbourhood showing up to see the new popular Knife Surrender Amnesty Bins. They immersed themselves in the realistic VR experience, shared a laugh, and filled themselves with mouth-watering BBQ food. Amidst the chatter, Brian McFadden, the famous Irish singer who himself was a victim of knife crime in his childhood, along with the Mayor, demonstrated our new bins.

Here’s what makes these Wybone bins the best choice for knife amnesty:

One-way chute makes withdrawal of the weapons impossible once they are deposited
Two hidden heavy-duty locks prevent the risk of breaking in
Three concealed hinges with smooth-headed bolts for an added safety layer
Extended baffle completely prohibits from reaching into the bins

Wybone Bins and The Spectacular Knife Angel Statue
These incredibly strong bins have been in the news since they were launched. The famous Knife Angel Statue created using 100,000 confiscated knives is accompanied by our Knife Amnesty Bin and is touring 12 destinations in the UK in 2024. While you’re reading this, the statue, followed by the Wybone bin, is serving as a powerful tribute to the ones who lost their lives to sharp weapons in Hillingdon, London. The Angel is moving to Durham as its last destination in December 2024.

Here Comes the Silver Lining
A ray of hope shines amid the ongoing knife violence, as the national knife amnesty scheme, Operation Spectre, has shown positive results within just one week, according to Durham Police. Here’s to fighting crime together, one day at a time!

Wrapping it up…
The journey of Wybone Knife Surrender Amnesty Bins started back in 2013, and we’ve been improving them ever since with feedback from local councils and the police. We take pride in crafting bespoke solutions for the betterment of society and saving the lives of thousands. Not only that, the same Knife Surrender Amnesty Bin can also be used as a secure locker to protect any items you wish to keep out of public reach. The secure chute system allows for easy deposit of items but prevents retrieval. These bins can be extremely useful if your organisation is on the lookout for bespoke solutions to address storage needs.