Knife crime & Knife amnesty
Tower Hamlets is home to six knife amnesty bins, installed by the charity Word 4 Weapons. Funded by Tower Hamlets Council, the Home Office, and a local church, these bins provide a safe and anonymous way to dispose of knives and other weapons—no questions asked.
A newly installed bin on Ruston Street has been custom-designed to accept larger weapons, including ninja swords.
From 1 August 2025, ninja swords will be banned under new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill. Possession could lead to imprisonment for up to six months, increasing to two years for repeat offences.
The six amnesty bins can be found at the following locations:
- Barnet Grove, E2 6 AD
- Treves House, Vallance Road E1 5A3
- Burslem Street, E1 2LL
- Brownfield Street, E14 6ND
- Byng Street, Canary Wharf E14
- St Mary and St Michael’s Church, Commercial Road E1 0AA
- Ruston Street, E3
Last emptied in November 2024, the bins produced a haul of 1,222 knives, 20 dangerous or banned weapons and one broken potential firearm. They bins were emptied prior to that in April 2024.
It is an offence to have a knife in a public place without a reasonable excuse.
Anyone wishing to use a knife or amnesty bin is advised to wrap their weapon up in newspaper or cardboard and ensure the blade is protected and the knife cannot easily be removed.
More information can be found at: Home - Word 4 Weapons.
Further support
For a list of advice services on keeping children and young people safe, visit the Tower Hamlets Support Service webpages.
Should parents find a weapon at home, they can report to 101 and ask for it to be collected (this would not result in an arrest as it is a collection request).
Faz amnesty (supported by Government) are available to pick up weapons from children/parents in the community and take them to the police station for safe disposal (no personal details are shared).
More information available on Community safety & crime prevention.