SURRENDER bins are to be placed across the county as part of police efforts to rid the streets of knives. 

Young people, and adults, are being urged to give up their knives this week by dumping them at police stations in Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. 

It forms part of a nationwide effort to reduce knife crime and includes pleas to retailers to be aware of who they are selling to. 

The county force is calling on businesses to ensure they are following the correct safety guidelines for legal selling and distribution, including what is sold online.

Bournemouth Echo:

Metal detector wands are also being provided in every single police car enabling officers to carry out more accurate searches. 

The wands will be used as a screening device available to officers already conducting a lawful and justified physical search of a person after their arrest.

Read more: New metal detector wands in fight against knives in Dorset

Assistant chief constable Neil Corrigan said the wands will make it “more difficult” for people to hide and use knives. 

He added: “I want to reassure the public that tackling knife crime is a key priority and while both serious violence and knife crime are falling in Dorset, our work remains ongoing.  

“The use of these wands, alongside operations such as Sceptre and high visibility patrols in Dorset, are driving down knife crime and educating people about the dangers of carrying a knife.”

Bournemouth Echo: March against knives earlier this year in Lower Gardens (BNPS)March against knives earlier this year in Lower Gardens (BNPS) (Image: BNPS)

The force will also be going out to schools this week to raise awareness about the consequences of carrying knives. 

It’s calling on parents to ask their children ‘what’s in the package?’ to help tackle knives being ordered online and through the post.

Read more: Dorset PCC David Sidwick on new zombie knife police powers

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “We know the damage knife crime can wreak on our communities, and I have listened to the public, asked what more could be done and taken action to provide the resources needed by officers.  

“This has included funding knife wands for every police car in the county and working with the force to introduce a knife arch to help in our fight against knife crime across Dorset.  

“I am absolutely determined Dorset Police have the equipment and resources to tackle knife crime.  

“As well as the work officers will be conducting to target those habitual knife carriers, I am pleased to see a targeted focus on prevention and educating young people.  

I know that enforcement alone will not prevent some young people carrying knives, which is why the work of our Safer Schools Community Team is so vital in the fight to protect our communities.”