A MONTH-long weapons amnesty will be run in a north Suffolk town next month to try to clamp down on unwanted weapons in the area.The weapons amnesty will run in Beccles during May in a further effort to take unwanted knives, air weapons and other potentially dangerous items out of circulation.

A MONTH-long weapons amnesty will be run in a north Suffolk town next month to try to clamp down on unwanted weapons in the area.

The weapons amnesty will run in Beccles during May in a further effort to take unwanted knives, air weapons and other potentially dangerous items out of circulation.

A bright yellow Nightsafe-badged bin will be put in place in the Hungate Lane car park in the town throughout May to give anyone living or working locally the chance to dispose of any unwanted items with no questions asked.

Police said previous amnesties in the area have been very successful with more than 140 items being surrendered in a similar initiative in 2005 and a three-week amnesty in Bungay last year netting more than 180 weapons.

A police spokesperson said: “An amnesty gives the whole community the opportunity to get rid of unwanted knives, firearms or other more unusual weapons.

“Past amnesties have seen swords, shotguns, air pistols, imitation firearms, bayonets, meat cleavers and an assortment of knives handed in.

“Every one of these would have previously been stored in someone's home, garden or business and if that property had been burgled and the item stolen it is possible it may have been used in a crime.”

The amnesty bin will be available 24-hours a day, seven days a week from May 1.

It is part of an ongoing Nightsafe and Staysafe campaign to tackle public place violent crime and anti-social behaviour and it will be emptied on a regular basis.