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St.Albans Neighbourhood Watch News & Alerts October 7, 2008 KNIFE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN – MID-MONTH RESULTS. THE HERTFORDSHIRE Constabulary knife deposit bins have been based at police stations across the county for two weeks and the mid-campaign results are now in - a total of 587 bladed items have been deposited in the specially-designated bins across the county so far.

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“This is an excellent example of the Constabulary working with the residents of Hertfordshire to get rid of any knives and bladed items before they could be used in a crime, and demonstrates that together we are committed to keeping knife crime out of the county,” said Detective Superintendent Mark Drew from the Community Safety and Crime Reduction Unit. “We are only half-way through the campaign, so I’d urge those tempted to carry a knife to get rid of the temptation and make use of the bins – that way they will be shredded and can never reach Hertfordshire’s streets.”

Although Hertfordshire saw a 5.4% drop in knife-related incidents in the county last year, the Constabulary launched the Deposit Facility as part a wider awareness campaign around knife crime. The campaign aims to reduce the number of knives and bladed objects in circulation that could be used in a crime; it shows that Hertfordshire is a hostile environment for those who carry or are tempted to carry a knife illegally and it reminds them of the serious consequences they could face.

Key Information:

• If you’re caught in illegal possession of a knife, you will be arrested and you could face up to four years in prison.

• A criminal record can affect the rest of your life - it may prevent you from getting a job, going to university or college or even travelling abroad to some countries.

• All knives deposited in a Deposit Bin will be shredded, thereby permanently removing them from circulation.

For safety reasons, if you deposit a bladed item in the bins provided, please ensure it is wrapped in cardboard and secured with tape.

To find out where your nearest police station is (there is a Deposit Bin at all police stations except Buntingford, Sawbridgeworth and Abbots Langley) visit www.herts.police.uk and click on ‘Police Stations’ on the right-hand menu or call the non-emergency number on 0845 33 00 222.