More than 11,000 knives and other weapons have been dumped in knife bins across Essex in just six months.
Essex Police said nearly a tonne of knives and sharp objects - 940 kilos - have been destroyed, with 11,263 knives, sharp objects and weapons surrendered in knife bins over six months.
There are sixteen knife bins in towns and cities across the county, including Basildon, Chelmsford and Harlow.
Chief Inspector Ian Hughes, of the force’s Serious Violence Unit, said: “Our knife bins are available to the public 24/7 to deposit knives and other weapons safely and they are very successful in removing thousands of knives from our streets, homes and communities every year.
“Indeed, knife-enabled crime is falling across Essex. But we know there is more to do to reduce the number of tragedies involving knife injuries which unfold every year.
“Officers are continually focused on identifying offenders who use knives and on using stop and search if they suspect someone is carrying a knife.”
In the 12 months to April 2022, 1,629 knife-enabled offences were recorded in Essex, a drop of 13 per cent from the 1,881 offences recorded during the 12 months to April 2020, police said.
Chief Inspector Hughes said the force also regularly deployed knife arches to deter knife-carrying in public and also worked with the Ben Kinsella Trust to educate youngsters on the dangers of carrying knives.
The charity was founded by actress Brooke Kinsella after the fatal stabbing of her 16-year-old brother Ben in an unprovoked attack in 2008 in north London.
