Bromley: A knife amnesty launched in Bromley saw a total of 89 weapons handed in to police stations throughout the borough.

Knife carriers surrendered their weapons anonymously by placing them in special bins at Bromley, Penge, Orpington, West Wickham and Beckenham police stations.

Coches, kitchen knives, flick knives and even a machete were among the weapons given up during the October amnesty.

A poster campaign informing residents of the amnesty was also launched to encourage people living and working in Bromley to hand their weapons in.

Throughout October, officers from the youth justice unit gave talks in schools on the dangers and potential consequences of carrying offensive weapons.

All knives collected will be destroyed and those left over disposed of.

Borough liaison officer Inspector Paul Bather said: "Any weapon off the street is fantastic news for us. But the campaign was also there to educate people about the danger of knives."

Martin King, the football coach of stab victim Danny Wandangu, welcomed the results of the amnesty.

The 46-year-old had been campaigning for a knife amnesty since September 2000 when 15-year-old Danny was fatally stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife in Tovil Close, Anerley.

He said: "I'm delighted 89 knives have been handed in but there are more out there.

"If this can be achieved in a month, it shows how many could be handed over in a year. These bins should be in the police stations all the time, and they should be advertised more."

He added: "Police should go into schools once every three months and give a chat about knives.

"If you go out of the house with a weapon in your pocket, you are going out with the intent to use it."

November 15, 2001 11:00