Knife bins are to be installed in York and across North Yorkshire in an initiative to crack down on crime.
Funding worth more than £15,000 has been awarded to North Yorkshire Council to install the bins.
It follows a successful pilot scheme conducted by the former Harrogate Borough Council which saw a knife drop bin installed at the Dragon Road car park in the town.
Since January, more than 500 knives and bladed articles have been deposited at the location.
Following local government reorganisation, North Yorkshire Council has committed to expanding the scheme, in partnership with City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police.
Although North Yorkshire is regarded as one of the safest counties in England and Wales in which to live, knife crime remains an issue.
And the number of fatal stabbings in England and Wales is reported to be at its highest level since records began more than 75 years ago.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 282 homicides were committed using a knife or sharp instrument in the year to March 2022, which is a 19 per cent rise when compared to the previous year.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, said he was delighted the bid for funding had been approved.
“Knife bins will not reduce these horrendous statistics on their own, but they have proven to be a successful way of preventing knives and bladed articles from getting into the wrong hands,” he said.
“Knife crime has devastating consequences for all those involved. If installing these bins leads to the prevention of just one death, then the investment will have been worthwhile.”
Locations are currently being considered for the new knife drop bins.
Once the locations have been decided, members of the public will be able to deposit the knife or bladed article through the bin’s hatch. People are advised to wrap the blade in thick paper or cardboard and secure with tape as a safety precaution.
The bins will then be emptied by officers from North Yorkshire Police and the items disposed of.
The money, from the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s serious violence duty prevention and early intervention fund, will enable the authority, in partnership with City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police.