Knife surrender event to be held in Gloucester Park
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An event aiming to give people in Gloucester the chance to hand knives and bladed articles into police is being held in Gloucester Park between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday evening (22 December).
The knife surrender comes following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Ramarni Crosby in Gloucester last week. This morning, three teenage boys were charged with his murder.
During the event officers will be in the park with the Neighbourhood Engagement Vehicle and knife surrender bins to safely receive the knives, which will then be taken away and destroyed.
Staff from Butlers nightclub in Gloucester have also volunteered to support the event.
Local Policing Team Inspector Ash Shingler said: "Following the outpouring of grief after Ramarni's death people in Gloucester have come together in a call to disarm and show how the city totally rejects violence on our streets.
"The creation of the 'Put the Knives Down Gloucester' Facebook group is an example of this, with group members already coming forward spontaneously to hand in knives and weapons.
"We wanted to provide an easy opportunity for others to take knives off our streets and remove the risk of them being used in crime.
"Following the surrender, the surrender bins will remain in the reception areas of Bearland and Barton Street police stations and people will still be able to go to to those stations to hand in any weapons."
Before coming to the event with any bladed item to hand in, members of the public are advised to use a few sheets of newspaper or cardboard to wrap it up ensuring that there is enough material to prevent it piercing through.
It should also be sealed with sticky tape to stop the blade being easily removed or falling out of the wrapping.
A recent knife surrender across the county following the conviction of a boy for the fatal stabbing of Dursley teenager Joshua Hall saw over 300 knives handed in.