Stabbed Teacher Backs Weapons Amnesty

19 January 2016, 16:30 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A teacher stabbed at a Bradford school, is backing a weapons amnesty launched by West Yorkshire Police.

For ten days from January 20, people can hand weapons, like knives and guns, in to police, with no questions asked. The aim is to stop them getting into the wrong hands.

Vincent Uzomah, aged 51, of Leeds, is supporting the campaign. He was working as a teacher at Dixons Kings Academy in Bradford in June last year when he was stabbed by a teenage boy.

He said: "Weapons are not toys, so please do not carry one. I nearly lost my life in the hand of a knife-carrying student in school, and my family was devastated. Our society is safer when you don't carry one, hand in any weapon in your possession today please".

The initiative is being supported by the Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife campaign which aims to bring together anti-knife campaigners across the country to reduce the number of weapons on the streets and make communities safer.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Angela Williams said: "While we continue to maintain a low number of recorded crimes involving guns, knives and other weapons, we take it extremely seriously.

"We had a good response to a similar campaign in November 2014 when more than 150 knives and other weapons were handed in. The safe removal of these items from the streets ensures they cannot be used for criminal activity or worse still to hurt or kill someone.

"We would urge members of the public to hand in any weapons at their local police station. Failure to do so would be a serious matter and could lead to some very serious charges.”

Dr Edward Impey, Master of the Royal Armouries, said: "We value the relationship we have built with West Yorkshire Police throughout our last 20 years in Yorkshire, and we are delighted to be able to offer our expertise to support them with this initiative."

For more information please visit our webpage: http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/HandInYourWeapons

Police Stations taking part:

Bradford South Police Station, Trafalgar House, Nelson Street, Bradford, BD5 0DX
8am - Midnight - Monday – Sunday

Dewsbury Police Station, Aldams Road, Dewsbury, WF12 8AR
8am - 10pm - Monday - Sunday

Halifax Police Station, Richmond Close, Halifax, HX1 5TW
7am - 11pm - Monday – Sunday

Keighley Police Station, Airedale House, Royd Ings Avenue, Keighley, BD21 4BZ
8am - Midnight - Monday – Sunday

Leeds - Elland Road Police Station, Elland Road, Leeds, LS11 8BU
8am - 10pm - Monday to Sunday

Leeds - Weetwood Police Station, 300 Otley Road, Leeds, LS16 6RG
Open 8am - 6pm - Monday to Sunday,

Wakefield District Headquarters, Havertop Lane, Normanton, WF6 1FD
8am - Midnight - Monday - Sunday