A parish is taking the fight to knife crime with the installation of a knife surrender bin.
Fr Michael Jarmulowicz of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Vincent de Paul Church in Harrow Road, Westminster, officially opened the bin on Sunday July 14th. The project was launched with the support of Caritas Westminster.
Fr Michael said, ‘We have had local crime here and some people may say what’s the point of the knife bin. But any knife taken off the streets is one knife less that can be used so thankfully we will be doing some good. Despite the news, many people don’t understand the severity of the issue and this will bring attention to the knife problem in the area. This bin is along a thoroughfare and so it’s a good place to put it.’
Also attending the launch were representatives from, Word4Weapons, several councillors, Westminster North MP Karen Buck, and parishioners.
Karen Buck said, ‘It takes a village to raise a child; I believe that very strongly. Children don’t grow up by themselves; they grow up in a neighbourhood. All our communities including our churches are part of being the community that brings up our children well and keeps them safe. The whole community knows about it and wants to come together for it.’
The bin is supplied and managed by Word4Weapons, a Christian organisation and weapons surrender charity. Since 2009 more than 35,000 weapons have been collected in their bins.
This is the third knife bin in a parish that Caritas has supported. For more information about Caritas, visit caritaswestminster.org.uk.
