‘BIN the blade before someone gets hurt’ is the message being spread by Wokingham teenagers launching a knife amnesty this week.
Youngsters worried that potentially lethal knives are being carried in and around the district have set up their own campaign to rid the streets of blades and weapons.
More than 15 teenagers have joined together in the past few months to learn how dangerous carrying a knife can be and have taken a presentation about the seriousness of carrying knives on a roadshow around the district’s schools.
To encourage young people to give up their knives without fear of prosecution, the group asked Thames Valley Police and Wokingham District Council to help them set up the amnesty. It will be officially launched at Forest School in Winnersh on Friday.
Adam Couchman, a 17-year-old from Finchampstead, said he used to carry a knife in self-defence but has since given it up after learning how dangerous it could be. He is hoping other teenagers will follow his lead.

See this week's The Wokingham Times for full story.