2024/115

Handmade letter opener knife with elaborate handle, acquired from the Thames Valley Police knife amnesty. The knife is Blacksmith made. The double sided blade is not sharp. The handle is made of four strands of metal, interlocking, creating a loop at the end.

1 letter opener; metal

Museum Object Entry form - [...] All objects handed in anonymously as part of Thames Valley Police knife amnesty, led by TVP violence reduction unit., Email, Nick Peppitt to MERL, 16 September 2024 - 'The attached photo is a handmade Blacksmith letter opener, quite nice to make really.', MERL Miscellaneous note - Thames Valley Police actively targets knife crime and those who carry knives. Each year they have two weeks of targeted activity and raising awareness in May and November, known as Operation Sceptre. TVP collect knives in permanent amnesty bins in police stations and other locations in the community. Using the bins members of the public can dispose of knives and bladed articles in a safe and legal way. The bins are regularly emptied and the contents carefully disposed of. In November 2023, 337 knives were handed in at the knife amnesty bins in the region. In Reading there are amnesty knife bins at Reading police station, Waitrose Car Park in Caversham, Cintra Park, Coley Park Community Centre, Kensington Park, Orts Road and Tilehurst Triangle. In Aylesbury there are amnesty knife bins at Aylesbury police station and Southcourt Baptist Church in Penn Road.