Suzanne Webb MP has visited a brand new knife bin outside a Brierley Hill boxing gym.

The Stourbridge MP, who is campaigning to combat knife crime, saw the police knife bin in the flesh at Team Pumpkin Gym.

Ms Webb is working with a series of community groups and organisations to address the issue in the West Midlands, having held her second Knife Crime Summit this month.

 

 

Read more: MP welcomes Stourbridge police base news in latest column

 

 

During her visit, the politician met with the gym's founder, Carl Collins, Ade Passey, father of knife crime victim Ryan, and Jason Connon, who runs the Justice for Ryan campaign.

In her discussion with gym staff, the MP noted the appropriateness of the venue for the new knife bin, highlighting the aptness of it being away from CCTV cameras to allow knives to be disposed of anonymously.

She said: "We need to keep raising awareness of the tragic consequences of knife crime and how, as a community, we can all work together to take knives off our streets and save lives.

"Many thanks to Team Pumpkin for installing the bin outside the gym and to Ade and Jason who remain an inspiration to everyone because of their campaign."

Mr Collins has welcomed the knife bin, shrugging off any stigma associated with having the bin on site.

He acknowledged the worrying local knife crime trend, saying: "Since Halloween 2023 we have had three of our younger boxers mugged at knife point.

"Knife crime is no longer an inner-city problem, unfortunately it's happening right here on our doorstep."

He added: "We have many school children come to the gym each week and the knife bin is visible for all to see. We reassure them that if they know of anyone who carries a knife, they can bring it along and dispose of it in the bin no questions asked."