A gruesome haul of weapons has already been handed over to Coventry police, just five days into the city’s knife amnesty. Police have taken charge of an axe, a machete and three knuckle dusters as the campaign to rid the streets of illegal weapons begins to take hold.

Officers launched the campaign last week urging people to ‘Bin their Blades’ in special bins across the city in a move to rid the streets of illegal weapons. And already people are beginning to come in.

Pc Enda Hughes, based at Little Park Street police station, is co-ordinating the campaign. He said the bins themselves wouldn’t be emptied until later in the week but people had been coming into Little Park Street to hand weapons in over the counter.

He said:

‘’People have heard about the campaign and want to take the opportunity to get rid of weapons. Within just a few hours of launching the campaign we had a dozen weapons handed in including a very large machete and three flick knives.’’

He said the knuckle dusters had been left anonymously on a police counter.

The weapons amnesty will run in the city for the next three months, giving people a chance to get rid of illegal weapons, no questions asked. Working with the city council the police have sited 12 special bins across the city where people can drop off their weapons. Police plan to empty the bins regularly and destroy whatever is inside.

Pc Hughes said:

‘’The response in these early days has been very encouraging and we hope that it continues. With every weapon that goes out of circulation we are lessening the chances of people getting hurt.’’

He urged people to use the bins to get rid of their weapons, rather than taking them directly into the police station. He said :

‘’The bins are very secure and emptied regularly. It is far safer for people to use them than bring weapons into police stations.’’

The brightly coloured amnesty bins can be found in the following places: