DEPUTY MAYOR BACKS NEW DRIVE TO TAKE DANGEROUS KNIVES OFF OUR STREETS

Published 12 August 2026 at 2:14pm

South Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor Kilvinder Vigurs has welcomed new knife surrender bins being installed across South Yorkshire as the Government expands its drive to take dangerous weapons off Britain's streets. 

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime was at Doncaster Fire Station (Tuesday 11 August) with Doncaster Central MP, Sally Jameson at the launch of the new bins, which have already been welcomed by families of knife crime victims in the county.

They form part of a nationwide roll-out of 45 surrender bins. Three others have been placed at fire stations in Rotherham, Barnsley and Sheffield (locations in Notes to Editors) in agreement with local violence reduction, policing and community safety partners.

More than 15,000 knives and offensive weapons have been removed from Britain’s streets over the past year. These have included ninja swords, zombie-style knives, machetes, swords and kitchen knives.

In South Yorkshire these bins are just one strand of the work the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is doing to tackle knife crime. The VRU brings together partners from across the county to deliver an approach that aligns prevention and enforcement activity with a shared responsibility and collective commitment to create better futures for children and young people.

This includes developing education packages to be delivered in schools, funding community groups and organisations to provide alternative activities for young people to get involved in and provides mentoring support to children at risk.

South Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kilvinder Vigurs, said: “Knives have no place on the streets of South Yorkshire. This initiative will give people a safe and anonymous way to hand in weapons in what we see as a positive step that will help to save lives and reduce the risk of harm in our communities.

“The sheer number of knives that have been handed in nationally shows the importance of having somewhere they can be dropped off with no questions asked. It is just another small way of making people in South Yorkshire safer.”

The surrender bins operate on a ‘no questions asked’ basis to encourage people who may otherwise be reluctant to handover their weapons in fear of the consequences. The weapons must be wrapped and sealed in a box or bag and will be disposed of safely and securely. 

Doncaster Central MP, Sally Jameson, said: “Knife crime has devastating impacts on lives, families and communities, which is why we must do everything we can to prevent dangerous weapons from ending up on Doncaster’s streets. Surrender bins provide a safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of knives, helping to reduce the risk of harm and support our wider efforts to tackle serious violence. Every weapon handed in is potentially a life saved.”

The Government's wider action to tackle knife crime is being given the backing of families who have experienced its devastating consequences first-hand. 

Lisa Theobald, the mum of 20-year-old knife victim Ryan, who was stabbed to death outside a nightclub in Doncaster in 2022, joined Cllr Gemma Cobby, Sally Jameson and the Deputy Mayor at the launch of the Doncaster surrender bin.

Speaking in support of the new bins, Lisa said: “As a family, we live every day with the loss of Ryan and the devastating impact that knife crime has had on our lives. If these surrender bins help take even one knife off the streets and prevent another family from going through what we have experienced, then they are worthwhile.

"Ryan's death can never be undone, but I will continue to support anything that helps save lives, raises awareness and makes our communities safer for young people."

The other South Yorkshire surrender bins have been placed at:

• Barnsley Fire Station, Broadway S70 6RA
• Doncaster Fire Station Leicester Ave, Doncaster DN2 6DR
• Rotherham Fire Station, Fitzwilliam Road, Eastwood S65 1LZ
• Sheffield South Fire Station, Lowedges Road S8 7JN