Waveney arms amnesty starts today

POLICE are assuring people in three of Waveney's market towns that there will be 'no questions asked' to anyone wanting to get rid of weapons during an amnesty starting today.

POLICE are assuring people in three of Waveney's market towns that there will be 'no questions asked' to anyone wanting to get rid of weapons during an amnesty starting today.

People with knives, firearms and other weapons are being encouraged to discard them in the bright yellow amnesty bin during a six-week amnesty in the Beccles, Bungay and Halesworth areas.

From Monday today the bin, which is marked with the Nightsafe logo, will stand in the Hungate Lane car park, in Beccles.

Two weeks later, from March 23, the bin will be moved to the Rainbow car park, at Hillside Road, Bungay, and from April 6 it will be sited at the Rainbow car park on Saxons Way, in Halesworth, for two weeks.

The bin is secure and will be emptied regularly.

Acting Insp Kevin Howell urged members of the public to take advantage of the initiative.

'Previous amnesties have seen hundreds of items handed in including everything from kitchen knives and firearms to more unusual items such as swords, flares, bayonets and ammunition,' he said.

'The Beccles neighbourhood is a relatively low crime area, but we recognise that many people may have items that are sitting in an attic, shed or cupboard that that they may wish to get rid of.

'Under normal circumstances they would not pose a threat, however if they fell into the wrong hands - perhaps if you were burgled for example - these could be used for crime.

'Every item collected means one less in circulation so we would ask everyone to clear any unwanted weapons and make use of the bin.'

The initiative is part of the Nightsafe scheme to address violent crime in the district.