Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has agreed to install secure knife disposal bins at its household recycling centres after councillors were told the move is needed to give people an anonymous and safe way to surrender offensive weapons ahead of new legislation.
Council adopts scheme ahead of changes to weapons law
The Environment and Economy Committee met at The Braid in Ballymena on Monday evening and approved participation in a Department of Justice Offensive Weapon Surrender Scheme. The council will place lockable bins at the recycling centres at Redlands, Larne; Sullatober, Carrickfergus; and Waveney Road, Ballymena so items can be deposited securely.
A committee report said the Department of Justice has invited local government authorities across Northern Ireland to take part in the scheme, which is scheduled to commence in the autumn. As part of the implementation of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, the DOJ intends to bring forward legislation to prohibit private possession of a range of offensive weapons.
Design and security of bins emphasised
Council officers told members that safety is of the "utmost importance" and that the bins will be lockable. Recycling centres are already locked at the end of the working day, the officer added, and the bins will be emptied regularly so that contents do not remain on site for long.
"They are big enough that they could not be taken away," the officer said in response to questions on security.
The officer's assurance followed a question from Larne Lough Ulster Unionist Councillor Roy Beggs, who asked whether the bins would be "tethered" to guard against removal. Councillors were also told that the bins would allow for anonymous surrender of items, a key aim set out in the Department of Justice proposals.
What items will be covered and how the wider scheme will operate
The proposed ban, as outlined in the report, is expected to include items such as machetes, so-called "ninja swords", "zombie knives" and flick knives. The Department of Justice also proposes to operate an offensive weapons surrender scheme through 17 designated Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stations across Northern Ireland.
Councillor Roy Beggs proposed approving the recommendation that the council participate in the offensive weapon surrender scheme; his proposal was seconded by Braid TUV Councillor Matthew Warwick.
Local implications and next steps
For residents in Mid and East Antrim the move will create additional, local options for surrendering offensive weapons prior to the legislation coming into effect. The council report stressed it is "considered essential that individuals are provided with a safe, secure and lawful means of securing and disposing of those items" before the law changes.
The implementation timetable indicates the scheme will begin in the autumn, subject to final arrangements between the Department of Justice and participating bodies. The council did not provide further detail at the meeting on the frequency of bin emptying beyond saying contents will be removed regularly.
- Bins to be located at three household recycling centres in Mid and East Antrim
- Lockable and designed to be too large to be removed from site
- Scheme forms part of wider DOJ offensive weapons surrender programme and anticipated new possession prohibitions
| Recycling Centre | Location |
|---|---|
| Redlands | Larne |
| Sullatober | Carrickfergus |
| Waveney Road | Ballymena |
Councillors will be expected to sign off any necessary operational details and funding arrangements as the council moves to implement the bins. The introduction of these local surrender points is intended to complement the PSNI station-based element of the Department of Justice scheme.
The decision reflects a broader push to reduce the private possession of offensive weapons and to provide lawful avenues for safe disposal. Residents seeking further information were advised to await detailed guidance from the council and the Department of Justice as the autumn commencement approaches.
