Knives, pistols and live military-grade ammunition left in weapon surrender bins

Blank-firing pistols in left in a bin on Stratford Road Credit: West Midlands PCC

Knives, pistols and live military-grade ammunition have been left in weapon surrender bins across Birmingham and the Black Country.

More than 100 live rifle rounds were found in a weapon surrender bin in Wolverhampton. Other finds included a stun gun, six blank-firing pistols, hammers and 132 knives.

Live rifle rounds in Whitmore Reans Credit: West Midlands PCC

Wolverhampton:

Tabernacle Baptist Church on Dunstall Road in Whitmore Reans - 102 military-calibre rifle rounds, 9 kitchen knives, 2 folding blades and a homemade knife were left in the weapon surrender bin.

Heath Town - 3 hammers, 5 kitchen knives and a folding blade.

Knives left in the Stratford Road bin Credit: West Midlands PCC

Birmingham:

Stratford Road Aldi bin - 6 blank-firing pistols were deposited alongside 30 domestic knives, a sheath knife and 2 machetes.

New Testament Church Of God, Lozells Road - 16 kitchen blades, 1 soft air revolver and a stun gun designed to look like a torch.

Hammers deposited in the Heath Town bin in Wolverhampton Credit: West Midlands PCC

Other finds in the bins included:

  • George Street, West Hockley: four pocket knives, four kitchen knives, one realistic-looking cap gun.

  • Goosemore Lane, Erdington: 10 knives.

  • The old Tesco, Five Ways, Birmingham: eight kitchen knives, one large combat knife.

  • Tesco Aston Lane: one knife

  • Cannon Street, Handsworth: 19 knives.

  • Sports Hub, Holford Drive: 11 knives and one CS gas canister.

  • Green Lane Masjid, Small Heath: seven blades.

All of the weapons have now been removed and disposed of.