POLICE in Redbridge are hoping to build on the success of the borough's knife amnesty in February as a new national amnesty comes into force.

Bins where weapons can be dumped anonymously will be at each station in the borough by the end of tomorrow (Friday) as part of the first nationwide amnesty for more than ten years.

Earlier this year, Redbridge's own amnesty saw 115 weapons including meat cleavers, cut throat razors, ceremonial swords, knuckle dusters and four imitation handguns surrendered.

Chief Inspector Carl Lindley said: "We are very pleased that people appreciate the danger of these weapons and want to dispose of them. Each one of these potentially represents a danger to a person in Redbridge or elsewhere."

In a joint billboard and poster campaign, the Government and the Association of Chief Police Officers will warn people about the dangers of carrying knives and encourage them to dispose of their knives in the specially designed secure red wheelie bins.

It is a criminal offence to carry a knife in public without good reason unless it is a folding pocket knife with a blade shorter than three inches, and possession of an offensive weapon carries a maximum penalty of four years imprisonment.

The amnesty runs until June 30.