Latest news with #Words4Weapons
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Knife amnesty bin installed just yards from Wimbledon as crime warning is issued
COUNCIL chiefs installed a knife bin near Wimbledon just days before this year's Championships kicked off. The amnesty box - where people can surrender their weapons - was instated at a church last week. 3 All blades, including soon-to-be-banned ninja swords, can be handed in at the secure bin on Pollards Hill. It will be emptied by specialist organisation Words4Weapons. Councillor Edith Macauely MBE, the London Borough of Merton's Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said she welcomed the move as "a meaningful step towards reducing violence and promoting safety" in the area. She added: 'Knife crime has devastating effects for everyone involved – the victims, the perpetrators and the community as a whole. "Our message must go out loud and clear: you never make yourself safer by carrying a knife. 'This new amnesty bin gives anyone who has made the error of acquiring a dangerous weapon the chance to correct their mistake and make themselves safer with no questions asked.' The amnesty box is part of a Home Office-funded scheme to tackle knife crime in the UK. Thirty seven other knife surrender bins have been installed across London and other violence hotspots. 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19 It comes after Wimbledon star Yulia Putintseva paused her first-round match on Monday over fears a 'crazy' fan had a knife courtside. The world No33 - who lost in 45 minutes without winning a game - reported the spectator to the umpire. Fans said the man had been attempting to talk to the Russian-born ace, who plays for Kazakhstan, at the start of her clash with American Amanda Anisimova on Court 15. Putintseva was heard saying: 'Can you take him out because maybe he has a knife? I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous, they are crazy.' The chair umpire consulted security and the game was resumed. It is unclear if any action was taken against the spectator, but it is understood he was not carrying a knife and would have been subject to a search for weapons when he entered the grounds. When asked about the incident on Tuesday, Wimbledon head of operations Michelle Dite told SunSport: 'We've been very upfront about this, that if the players have got any concerns, if they feel that there's something that doesn't feel quite right, they absolutely should bring it to light. We would rather know about these things." She added: "One of the players had some concerns, they went and spoke to the umpire, we checked it all out with security.' Wimbledon bosses played down the incident, including Putintseva's 'knife' remark. A spokesman insisted: 'Security was in the area. The issue was dealt with.' 3
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Knife amnesty bin installed just yards from Wimbledon as crime warning is issued
BIN IT Knife amnesty bin installed just yards from Wimbledon as crime warning is issued COUNCIL chiefs installed a knife bin near Wimbledon just days before this year's Championships kicked off. The amnesty box - where people can surrender their weapons - was instated at a church last week. Advertisement 3 Wimbledon is taking place between June 30 and July 13 Credit: Reuters All blades, including soon-to-be-banned ninja swords, can be handed in at the secure bin on Pollards Hill. It will be emptied by specialist organisation Words4Weapons. Councillor Edith Macauely MBE, the London Borough of Merton's Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said she welcomed the move as "a meaningful step towards reducing violence and promoting safety" in the area. She added: 'Knife crime has devastating effects for everyone involved – the victims, the perpetrators and the community as a whole. Advertisement READ MORE WIMBLEDON WIMBLEDON WOES Wimbledon star funded by Djokovic collapses in agony and forced to retire "Our message must go out loud and clear: you never make yourself safer by carrying a knife. 'This new amnesty bin gives anyone who has made the error of acquiring a dangerous weapon the chance to correct their mistake and make themselves safer with no questions asked.' The amnesty box is part of a Home Office-funded scheme to tackle knife crime in the UK. Thirty seven other knife surrender bins have been installed across London and other violence hotspots. Advertisement 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19 It comes after Wimbledon star Yulia Putintseva paused her first-round match on Monday over fears a 'crazy' fan had a knife courtside. The world No33 - who lost in 45 minutes without winning a game - reported the spectator to the umpire. Advertisement Distraught Wimbledon star feared 'dangerous' fan had knife and demanded they were kicked out Fans said the man had been attempting to talk to the Russian-born ace, who plays for Kazakhstan, at the start of her clash with American Amanda Anisimova on Court 15. Putintseva was heard saying: 'Can you take him out because maybe he has a knife? I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous, they are crazy.' The chair umpire consulted security and the game was resumed. It is unclear if any action was taken against the spectator, but it is understood he was not carrying a knife and would have been subject to a search for weapons when he entered the grounds. Advertisement When asked about the incident on Tuesday, Wimbledon head of operations Michelle Dite told SunSport: 'We've been very upfront about this, that if the players have got any concerns, if they feel that there's something that doesn't feel quite right, they absolutely should bring it to light. We would rather know about these things." She added: "One of the players had some concerns, they went and spoke to the umpire, we checked it all out with security.' Wimbledon bosses played down the incident, including Putintseva's 'knife' remark. A spokesman insisted: 'Security was in the area. The issue was dealt with.' Advertisement
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Knife amnesty bin installed just yards from Wimbledon as crime warning is issued
COUNCIL chiefs installed a knife bin near Wimbledon just days before this year's Championships kicked off. The amnesty box - where people can surrender their weapons - was instated at a church last week. 3 Wimbledon is taking place between June 30 and July 13 Credit: Reuters All blades, including soon-to-be-banned ninja swords, can be handed in at the secure bin on Pollards Hill. It will be emptied by specialist organisation Words4Weapons. Councillor Edith Macauely MBE, the London Borough of Merton's Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said she welcomed the move as "a meaningful step towards reducing violence and promoting safety" in the area. She added: 'Knife crime has devastating effects for everyone involved – the victims, the perpetrators and the community as a whole. READ MORE WIMBLEDON "Our message must go out loud and clear: you never make yourself safer by carrying a knife. 'This new amnesty bin gives anyone who has made the error of acquiring a dangerous weapon the chance to correct their mistake and make themselves safer with no questions asked.' The amnesty box is part of a Home Office-funded scheme to tackle knife crime in the UK. Thirty seven other knife surrender bins have been installed across London and other violence hotspots. Most read in Sport 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - It comes after Wimbledon star Yulia Putintseva The world No33 - who Distraught Wimbledon star feared 'dangerous' fan had knife and demanded they were kicked out Fans said the man had been attempting to talk to the Russian-born ace, who plays for Kazakhstan, at the start of her clash with American Amanda Anisimova on Court 15. Putintseva was heard saying: 'Can you take him out because maybe he has a knife? I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous, they are crazy.' The chair umpire consulted security and the game was resumed. It is unclear if any action was taken against the spectator, but it is understood he was not carrying a knife and would have been subject to a search for weapons when he entered the grounds. When asked about the incident on Tuesday, Wimbledon head of operations Michelle Dite told SunSport: 'We've been very upfront about this, that if the players have got any concerns, if they feel that there's something that doesn't feel quite right, they absolutely should bring it to light. We would rather know about these things." She added: "One of the players had some concerns, they went and spoke to the umpire, we checked it all out with security.' Wimbledon bosses played down the incident, including Putintseva's 'knife' remark. A spokesman insisted: 'Security was in the area. The issue was dealt with.' 3 Yulia Putintseva was distressed during her first round match
Sky News
17-03-2025
- Health
- Sky News
South London hospital reveals 'terrifying' results of knife amnesty
A south London hospital has revealed the frightening results of a knife amnesty it introduced after a massive surge in stab victims it was having to treat. St George's Hospital in Tooting brought in the measure after its emergency department treated more than 500 people for injuries from knives and other sharp objects last year - almost double the number seen in 2022. Provided by knife crime charity Words 4 Weapons, St George's installed an amnesty bin on the hospital grounds near the emergency department for people to anonymously dispose of weapons. In its first six months, 87 sharp objects were surrendered, including zombie knives and machetes, as well as other weapons such as knuckle dusters. Cleo Kenington, consultant in emergency general surgery and major trauma at the hospital, said she has had to "physically remove knives from patients on the operating table to stop them bleeding to death". "These patients are young, vulnerable and scared - they have their whole lives ahead of them and they often say 'I don't want to die'," she added. "I've seen more and more patients being admitted with stab wounds - once they arrive at St George's we provide them with the best possible care and most survive, but tragically many patients die before they can reach hospital as their injuries are so severe." Sandra Campbell, chief executive of Words 4 Weapons, said the images of weapons handed in at St George's Hospital "may shock people but they are even more terrifying up close". The weapons "have the potential to end someone's life or cause serious damage if they were still on the streets", she added. After the success of the scheme in London, an NHS trust said it would introduce the bins at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton and Epsom Hospital in Surrey. Jacqueline Totterdell, chief executive of St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: "Keeping staff and patients safe is our top priority - that's why we're working with partners to keep weapons out of our hospitals." Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson added: "Tackling violence and making our streets safer is at the heart of this government's Plan for Change and we cannot do this alone. "I've seen first-hand how hospitals like St George's can help - they are so often at the centre of tragic incidences of knife crime. "Last month, we announced £9.4m of funding for the London Violence Reduction Unit which will enable them to continue funding youth workers in major trauma centres across London to help young people impacted by knife crime."
Sky News
12-03-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Surge in stab victims forces hospital to offer knife amnesty
A south London hospital has revealed the frightening results of a knife amnesty it introduced after a massive surge in stab victims it was having to treat. St George's Hospital in Tooting brought in the measure after its emergency department treated more than 500 people for injuries from knives and other sharp objects last year - almost double the number seen in 2022. Provided by knife crime charity Words 4 Weapons, St George's installed an amnesty bin on the hospital grounds near the emergency department for people to anonymously dispose of weapons. In its first six months, 87 sharp objects were surrendered, including zombie knives and machetes, as well as other weapons such as knuckle dusters. Cleo Kenington, consultant in emergency general surgery and major trauma at the hospital, said she has had to "physically remove knives from patients on the operating table to stop them bleeding to death". "These patients are young, vulnerable and scared - they have their whole lives ahead of them and they often say 'I don't want to die'," she added. "I've seen more and more patients being admitted with stab wounds - once they arrive at St George's we provide them with the best possible care and most survive, but tragically many patients die before they can reach hospital as their injuries are so severe." After the success of the scheme in London, an NHS trust said it would introduce the bins at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton and Epsom Hospital in Surrey. Jacqueline Totterdell, chief executive of St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: "Keeping staff and patients safe is our top priority - that's why we're working with partners to keep weapons out of our hospitals." Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson added: "Tackling violence and making our streets safer is at the heart of this government's Plan for Change and we cannot do this alone. "I've seen first-hand how hospitals like St George's can help - they are so often at the centre of tragic incidences of knife crime. "Last month, we announced £9.4m of funding for the London Violence Reduction Unit which will enable them to continue funding youth workers in major trauma centres across London to help young people impacted by knife crime."
