Knife disposal bin installed in Omagh

FERMANAGH and Omagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) has installed a new weapon surrender bin in Omagh to dispose of knives, blades and sharp objects.

The bin, located at Gortrush Recycling Centre, has been introduced as part of efforts to tackle local knife crime.

Local PSNI district commander, Superintendent Alywin Barton, said his officers had dealt with a number of incidents during the past year where people had used knives to inflict serious injuries on others.

“In those incidents the victims were incredibly lucky they did not lose their lives. I encourage the use of these bins as a method of safely disposing of knives, but most importantly as an opportunity to make the communities in Fermanagh and Omagh a safer place,” the superintendent added.

Councillor Keith Elliott, chair of Fermanagh and Omagh PCSP, said the decision to introduce the weapons disposal bin is part of an effort to tackle violence – offering people a place to safely, securely and anonymously dispose of knives that could be used as weapons to potentially cause harm or loss of life.

Mr Elliott explained, “These bins are providing people with a legal and safe way to dispose of knives which they shouldn’t be carrying and all knives recovered from the bins will be destroyed. Every knife posted into a surrender bin is potentially a life saved. Knives can ruin the lives of individuals, families and entire communities. If you have a knife or any weapon, or know somebody who does, I strongly recommend that it be disposed of in one of the new bins.”