New knife surrender bins installed in Doncaster in bid to take deadly weapons off city's streets
“We live every day with the loss of Ryan and the devastating impact that knife crime has had on our lives”
New knife surrender bins have been installed in Doncaster, and across South Yorkshire, as part of a Government drive to take dangerous weapons off Britain’s streets.
The knife surrender bins have been installed at fire stations in Doncaster, Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham, and form part of a nationwide roll-out of 45 surrender bins across the country.
The Government's wider action to tackle knife crime is being given the backing of families who have experienced its devastating consequences first-hand.
Lisa Theobald, the mum of Ryan Theobald who was just 20-years-old when he was stabbed to death outside a Doncaster nightclub in 2022, was among those who attended a launch for the surrender bins.
She said: “As a family, we live every day with the loss of Ryan and the devastating impact that knife crime has had on our lives. If these surrender bins help take even one knife off the streets and prevent another family from going through what we have experienced, then they are worthwhile.
"Ryan's death can never be undone, but I will continue to support anything that helps save lives, raises awareness and makes our communities safer for young people."
The South Yorkshire knife surrender bins have been installed at the following locations:
Also in attendance at the launch, which was held at Doncaster Fire Station on Tuesday (August 11, 2026), was South Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor Kilvinder Vigurs.
“Knives have no place on the streets of South Yorkshire. This initiative will give people a safe and anonymous way to hand in weapons in what we see as a positive step that will help to save lives and reduce the risk of harm in our communities.
“The sheer number of knives that have been handed in nationally shows the importance of having somewhere they can be dropped off with no questions asked. It is just another small way of making people in South Yorkshire safer,” Ms Vigurs said.
MP for Doncaster Central, Sally Jameson, who was also present at the launch, said: “Knife crime has devastating impacts on lives, families and communities, which is why we must do everything we can to prevent dangerous weapons from ending up on Doncaster’s streets.
“Surrender bins provide a safe and anonymous way for people to dispose of knives, helping to reduce the risk of harm and support our wider efforts to tackle serious violence. Every weapon handed in is potentially a life saved.”
The surrender bins operate on a “no questions asked” basis to encourage people who may otherwise be reluctant to handover their weapons in fear of the consequences.
The weapons must be wrapped and sealed in a box or bag and will be disposed of safely and securely.
Over the past year, more than 15,000 knives and offensive weapons have been removed from Britain’s streets.
These have included ninja swords, zombie-style knives, machetes, swords and kitchen knives.
The new surrender bins are one strand of work carried out by the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in its fight to tackle knife crime.