Knife amnesty bin placed outside Medway Police Station in Gillingham

Kent Police installed a temporary knife amnesty bin outside Medway Police Station in Gillingham, allowing members of the public to surrender knives and other bladed objects without facing prosecution.

The bin was scheduled to be available from Monday 9 November to Sunday 15 November, according to an announcement by Kent Police. The force said the initiative formed part of ongoing efforts to tackle knife crime.

Kent Police stated that anyone using the bin could surrender knives or bladed objects without fear of prosecution. The announcement did not specify whether the bin was supervised, how surrendered items would be disposed of, or whether weapons could be handed in at any other location.

Under the law in England and Wales, carrying most knives in public without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence. Some prohibited weapons are unlawful to possess even on private premises. A knife surrendered through a police amnesty is legally distinct from one recovered during an arrest or search.

Key information

The amnesty bin was located outside Medway Police Station, Gillingham
The bin was available from Monday 9 November to Sunday 15 November
No prosecution would be brought against those surrendering items, according to Kent Police

Source: @kent_police

Published: 6 November 2026