A new knife amnesty bin has been installed at Pollards Hill Baptist Church to help tackle knife crime and boost community safety
A new knife amnesty bin has been installed outside Pollards Hill Baptist Church in a concerted effort to tackle knife crime and promote community safety in the area.
The initiative, part of a broader Home Office-funded programme, aims to offer young people and concerned family members a safe, anonymous way to surrender knives and other dangerous weapons—without the need to visit a police station.
Located on Wide Way, near South Lodge Avenue and Sherwood Park Road, the secure bin provides a discreet drop-off point for anyone wishing to dispose of a weapon. The site was selected to be both visible and accessible, while preserving user anonymity to encourage greater use.
All types of weapons can be handed in at the site, including so-called ninja swords, which will be fully banned in the UK from 1 August 2025.
The Pollards Hill bin is one of 37 new knife surrender points being rolled out across London and other regions under the scheme. It will be maintained by Words4Weapons, a specialist organisation experienced in managing secure amnesty units.
Councillor Edith Macauley MBE, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, praised the move as a vital step in addressing the root causes of violence.
“Knife crime has devastating effects for everyone involved – the victims, the perpetrators, and the wider community,” she said. “Our message must go out loud and clear: you never make yourself safer by carrying a knife. This new amnesty bin gives anyone who has made the error of acquiring a dangerous weapon the chance to correct their mistake and make themselves safer—with no questions asked.”
The installation was made possible through collaboration between Merton Council, Moat Homes, the Metropolitan Police, the Home Office, and local community partners.
Authorities hope the new facility will be used regularly and become a trusted outlet for reducing weapons on the streets of Pollards Hill.