An amnesty knife bank for people to dispose of huge blades is "overflowing" outside a UK police station making it "easy" access for criminals, a lawyer has warned.
Ozhan Salih, from Banks and partners solicitors, says the bin placed outside of Brixton Police Station, South London, poses a risk to the community. The amnesty bank is meant to allow members of the public to safely deposit knives anonymously. However, Mr Salih warned that the bank is a "hazard".
It comes as numerous stabbings have flooded South London is recent weeks, with schoolgirl Elianne Andam, 15, tragically losing her life in Croydon on September 27. In a TikTok video which went viral this summer, Mr Salih, also known as user @bee_legal_london, said: "I'm at Brixton Police station. This is where you can get rid of your knives. It is so overfull that there are knives actually falling out of this surrender your knife bank.
Bigger knives are stored in a container before they go in the bin (bee_legal_london/Instagram)
Ozhan Salih called for action to be taken outside the police station (bee_legal_london/Instagram)"It is so easy, just put your hand in there, grab a knife and go on your way because they can't be bothered to change it. Look at it, it is overflowing with knives. It is a disgrace. And then I've got to come and represent someone for having a knife on them. Imagine."
In his latest video, posted on September 8, he is seen being assisted by a police officer as they safely dispose of what looks like a zombie knife, which he labels a "Brixton Special", whilst he is out on a job. He said he always checks the bank when he visits the station for work.
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Mr Salih told his 10.8k TikTok followers: "This is now getting disposed. When I make these videos I always put a complaint in and go into the front office. But with this specific chopper, I'm making sure the officer disposes of it in front of us. Knife crime is serious in our community." He goes on to say, that he is in favour of the banks being installed elsewhere and adds: "knife crime awareness, drop the shanks, ask for banks". However, in this case, he believes the bank is doing more harm than good.
"We have to protect our community," he continued. "This knife bank here is a hazard it is not helping the community. It is becoming a free-for-all knife bank." He addressed critics who said that the videos can be viewed as advertising. "People say I'm advertising that there are free knives for sale," he said. "I'm just trying to give them awareness that this knife bank is a hazard."
Residents have previously highlighted their concerns with reports of the bin overflowing back in 2021. A video surfaced online which showed a piece of paper taped over the slot, which warned "Do not use."
Local Georgia Whitehouse warned how the bin was situated close to a primary school. She said having knives on her doorstep was "intimidating." She previously told South London Press : “I find this shocking because anyone can access the knives so easily. In theory, I should feel safer than most living opposite a police station, however, this is just another cause for concern.”
Fergus Glazer, 22, said that more provisions needed to be put in place and called it a "half-baked idea." He added: “I think the drop-off point needs to be manned or have someone supervising it, but obviously without any judgement to anyone who is dropping a knife off."
Met Police said the bin is checked regularly (bee_legal_london/Instagram)
The lawyer shares his findings on his social media @bee_legal_London (bee_legal_london/Instagram)His roommate at the time, Eve, explained that they moved to Brixton from Suffolk and "didn't feel safe." She continued: “Having it like this is potentially more dangerous than the original purpose because anyone can just take a knife from the bin."
The Mirror contacted the Met Police and a spokesperson has since confirmed they will be removing the bin. The force said the bin is regularly emptied but admitted the knives have been accessible at times. The spokesperson told us: "The knife amnesty bin outside Brixton Police Station is emptied at regular intervals, but there have been occasions when it has filled to a level where knives have been accessible to people reaching inside. This is not an acceptable risk, so until such time as a more secure solution can be found, we are taking steps to have the bin removed."
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