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There is a “real appetite” from communities to get rid of knife crime. That was the message from Avon and Somerset Police when Bristol’s first two community delivery gun bins were set up yesterday (Monday) in the city center and south of Bristol.

Community drop bins have been officially set up at The Park Center on Daventry Road and Castle Park in the city center in a bid to get more dangerous weapons off the streets. This follows the force’s initiative where 13 weapons delivery containers were placed next to police stations or shared police sites and local authority buildings in 2016, allowing dangerous weapons to be delivered without questions being asked.

Avon and Somerset Police Chief for Knife Crimes, Chief Inspector Mike Vass, said more than 4,000 dangerous weapons were delivered in those bins, and the aim of the new community gun drop-off bins was to expand the initiative to take out street weapons improving accessibility. He said: “It’s really exciting because these units will only be placed at the request of the communities as to where they have asked for it.”

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He said police had received a long list of offers from communities who wanted delivery containers that were easily accessible. He said: “There is a real appetite for accessibility for these types of delivery units.”

The new community drop bins are completely anonymous and will be opened once a month for collection. The containers have been bolted down and the weapon storage slot has been specifically designed to prevent someone from reaching into the container.

Chief Inspector Vass said weapons previously delivered in containers next to police stations included a wide variety of weapons, from simple kitchen knives to ‘zombie’ knives. He said that since changes to the Offensive Weapons Law in 2019, the public had become more aware of what type of weapon was illegal.

This includes weapons that were previously allowed and popular because of movies or games, such as ‘zombie’ knives, ‘Klingon war knives’, ‘throwing stars’ and ‘Rambo knives’. He said that other dangerous weapons turned in included medieval weapons, antique weapons (more than 100 years old), bayonets from World War I and II, combat and/or hunting knives, concealed blades, and ceramic blades.

Community member Leanne Reynolds, who campaigned to reduce knife crime after the Lawrence Hill stabbing of Dontae Davis in October 2021, was also active in setting up gun drop-off bins. Speaking at the launch of the bins, she said: “I’m very happy to see them reaching communities so people can get rid of weapons.

“These community sites are 100% anonymous and there are no cameras around. There is no reason to walk with a knife,” she said.

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