The Government’s latest weapon surrender scheme has been welcomed by West Midlands Police Federation chair Jess Davies. 

The scheme, which runs throughout July, offers young people safe and anonymous ways to hand in knives and other dangerous weapons - including deadly ninja swords, which will be fully banned from 1 August 2025.

Launched as part of the Government’s ‘Plan for Change’ and supported by grassroots organisations including Word 4 Weapons and FazAmnesty, the scheme includes:

• 37 new surrender bins placed across the West Midlands, London and Greater Manchester – the three areas with the highest levels of knife crime
• A new mobile surrender van, designed to make it even easier for young people to hand in weapons safely and discreetly
• A compensation scheme for those surrendering ninja swords at designated police stations ahead of the upcoming national ban.

The month-long initiative is being delivered in collaboration with local councils, community groups and the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, using trusted voices to engage with young people and direct them toward support services.

Jess praised the initiative’s community-led approach: “We absolutely support this. Any move that takes dangerous weapons off our streets - especially through non-confrontational, community-based efforts - is a positive step. 

“Our members see the real consequences of knife crime every day, and they want to prevent, not just respond to, violence. Giving young people a way to make a different choice, without fear of judgment or arrest, is crucial.

“This scheme is about more than surrendering weapons - it’s about saving lives, empowering communities and helping build a future where young people feel safe. We’re proud to stand behind it.”

The surrender bins and mobile van will remain in place across hotspot areas throughout the month.

From 1 August, ninja swords - the type of weapon used in the tragic killing of Ronan Kanda in Wolverhampton in 2022 - will be illegal to possess in both public and private, under new laws introduced as part of Ronan’s Law, included in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill.

The scheme has been publicly endorsed by policing minister Dame Diana Johnson and campaigners including Pooja Kanda (mother of Ronan), Sandra Campbell (CEO of Word 4 Weapons), and Faron Paul (founder of FazAmnesty), who have worked tirelessly to see such measures introduced.

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