An amnesty bin to get knives off the streets has scooped up 500 weapons in its first 12 months in Stratford.

Now three more are being installed by Newham Council in a war on knife crime. 

Sites have been found for the additional bins in East Ham, Plaistow and Beckton after one was set up last year outside the Salvation Army.

The bins offer a legal way to dispose of knives and anything with a blade, including kitchen knives. 

“Anyone can use the bins,” the council’s children and young people director Laura Eden explained. “They are completely anonymous and non-judgemental.

“Carrying a knife has devastating consequences which can be fatal. We hope this move helps reduce the number of families who are left shattered by knife crime.”

The local authority is urging people to wrap the blade securely before dropping the knife in, then shutting the lid securely.

It is safer using amnesty bins than in general waste bins, the council advises.

The additional bins have been set up outside the Bonny Downs Community Association in Vicarage Lane, East Ham, Newham’s Rights and Equalities charity in Barking Road, Plaistow, and at the Royal Docks Learning Centre in Albert Road, Beckton.

They are secured to the ground to prevent them being removed and are all emptied regularly by Word 4 Weapons, a national charity which delivers the knives to the Met Police to be disposed of legally and safely.

Sandra Campell, from Word 4 Weapons, said: “Installing knife amnesty bins in the street could encourage individuals to surrender their weapons. Anyone can safely use them anonymously to discard weapons in their possession or knives unwanted in the home which can cause harm.”

The charity, which is based in north London at Dukes Mews, Muswell Hill, has set up 20 knife bins across London so far.

The bin in Stratford outside the Salvation Army building in Paul Street, off Tramway Avenue, has had 500 items dropped in over the past 12 months alone, the organisation revealed.

Word 4 Weapons runs education programmes for schools, parents and youth workers with awareness sessions and has a 24-hour advice line on 07452 743443.