Knife and weapons surrender scheme offers safe way to dispose of unwanted blades

A national knife and weapons surrender scheme is giving members of the public an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of knives and other bladed weapons.

The Home Office-funded scheme is running throughout August 2026, with specially installed surrender bins available in several areas of England.

A mobile surrender van operated by FazAmnesty is also visiting selected locations in Greater London and the West Midlands during the surrender period.

Members of the public can hand in knives and other bladed weapons without providing personal information or answering questions.

The surrender scheme is designed to provide a safe way for people to dispose of weapons they no longer want or are concerned about, helping prevent them from ending up in the hands of others.

People using the mobile surrender van will be guided through the process by staff before placing the item into a secure surrender bin inside the vehicle.

There are also permanent surrender bins located in parts of Greater London, the West Midlands, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.

The Home Office said the bins will remain in place after the August surrender period ends, providing an ongoing community resource for the anonymous and secure disposal of knives and other bladed weapons.

Anyone planning to surrender an item is reminded that it must be made as safe as reasonably possible for transportation.

The guidance says items should be wrapped and placed inside a sealed bag or box and must not be carried openly.

Members of the public should also avoid handling the item unnecessarily and should travel directly to the appropriate surrender location.

Once an item has been placed inside a surrender bin, people should not attempt to retrieve it.

The bins will be regularly monitored, checked and emptied, with surrendered items then disposed of securely.

The scheme also covers certain items that may be considered offensive weapons, allowing members of the public to surrender them during the designated surrender period.

The initiative is part of wider efforts to reduce the number of knives and bladed weapons circulating in communities and encourage people to dispose of unwanted weapons safely.

The Home Office has also expanded the scheme this year with new surrender bin locations in West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.

Anyone wishing to take part should check the official location information before travelling to ensure they use the correct surrender bin or mobile van.

Important: The official guidance should be followed carefully when transporting an item for surrender. Carrying a bladed article in public without a lawful reason can be an offence, so members of the public should follow the surrender instructions and take all reasonable steps to keep the item safely contained.

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