Wokingham

It’s not big and it’s not clever to carry a knife – this is the message from a group of young people in the Wokingham district as they launch a knife amnesty on Friday May 26.

A group of some 15 young people from Wokingham have formed a Tribute group in memory of two of their friends - Twood Nadauld and Steven Bayliss – who tragically died last year.

The young people have had regular meetings with Wokingham district council youth workers about knives and concerns they have about their peers not understanding how dangerous knives can be. They were keen to arrange a knife amnesty and approached Wokingham District Council and Thames Valley Police to see if this would be possible. And as a result, the district council and Thames Valley Police will be backing a national knife amnesty in the district.

Over the past few weeks, young people have been giving presentations at some of the district’s secondary schools to raise awareness about the knife amnesty and the dangers of using weapons of any sort. The final presentation will take place on Friday May 26 at The Forest School in Winnersh, Wokingham where the Tribute group will officially launch the district’s knife amnesty, which will run until June 30.

Adam Couchman, aged 17, from Finchampstead, said: “By launching this amnesty, we aim to raise public awareness to the fact that people do carry knives and knives do get used. Some people carry knifes in self-defence, but half the time when they go to use them, it is not in a self-defence situation. Their knife could also be turned on them. You are no safer with a knife than you are without one.

“By launching the amnesty, we hope to reduce the number of knives on the streets. Our main aim is to prevent what happened to us from happening to other young people in the district. I used to carry a knife. I never used it, and never thought about using it, but now wish I had never carried it. I will be the first person to get rid of it, because it’s not big and it’s not clever.”

Local young people have also designed posters encouraging people to take part in the Wokingham knife amnesty.

Encouragement will be given to as many local residents as possible - young and old - to take advantage of the amnesty bins. Anyone wishing to dispose of a knife or offensive weapon can do so at Wokingham Police Station, Denmark Street, Wokingham or at Loddon Valley Police Station, Rushey Way, Lower Earley from May 26. During the amnesty period, people can hand their knives over to police without fear of prosecution. It is important that all knives deposited should be wrapped in cardboard or something similar and secured with tape. This will ensure it cannot be used before it is deposited in an amnesty bin at the police station.

Kelly Marshall, aged 17, from Wokingham, said: “This is the one opportunity for people with knives to dispose of them in a safe way and without being prosecuted. Carrying a knife in a public place is an offence. Due to this, there are certain ways knives to be deposited should be carried. The knives should be wrapped in cardboard, or something similar, and secured with tape. This will prevent any accidents on the way to the amnesty or whilst there. We would like to stress that people depositing of knives at the designated areas will not be questioned or prosecuted. If you have a knife, think about getting rid of it.”

After the knife amnesty, the Tribute group will return to Wokingham district’s schools to talk about knife awareness and they are currently making a DVD to raise awareness further.

Cllr Barrie Patman, executive member for Wokingham community safety, said: “The month-long amnesty aims to reduce the number of crimes involving a knife and remove as many knives as possible from the streets of the Wokingham district. Everyone involved is committed to ensuring the district is a safe place to live, work and study. I would like to congratulate the Tribute group for their hard work and I hope that the amnesty will be a success.”

Chief Inspector Tony Ismay, the Local Police Area Commander for Wokingham, said: “I am really pleased that we are participating in the national knife amnesty and more so that our version has a real youth focus to it.

“The drive is to make the Wokingham area an even safer place to live and work and removing these weapons from circulation can only add to this enhanced safety. I would encourage anyone who has such a weapon to take this opportunity to legally dispose of it.”

A nationwide knives amnesty will also be held between May 24 and June 30.

Wokingham District Council