Weapons collected in Hackney. Pic: Met Police

More than 130 weapons have been surrendered to police in a two-week weapons amnesty in Hackney, which ended last weekend.

Weapons anonymously disposed included 126 knives, two replica pistols, two BB guns and one shotgun.

Bins were placed outside Stoke Newington and Shoreditch police stations last week as collection points for members of the public to surrender any unlawfully held guns, knives and ammunition.

A mobile police station was also deployed to housing estates around the borough each day, placing the bin in different locations.

The Hackney weapons amnesty provides an anonymous and secure way for people to surrender their weapons to the police.

Sergeant Dev Singh, of the Victoria Safer Neighbourhood Team was responsible for organising the amnesty campaign.

Singh said he was very pleased with the results of the amnesty: “The number of crimes involving guns and knives continues to fall in Hackney, however we are not complacent. We are determined to rid Hackney’s streets of illegal weapons.”

“Anyone caught carrying a weapon can expect to be arrested and prosecuted, but this amnesty was another way for people in the community to help us keep the streets safe. This amnesty is only one part of our on-going work to make the streets of Hackney a safer place.”

Much like the last Hackney weapons amnesty a few years ago, many of the knives and firearms were believed to be surrendered by teenagers.

It is thought that young people in particular were encouraged to give up their arms over the two-week period with the reassurance that they could do so anonymously and safely.

The latest data from the Met police reports that there were 116 offensive weapon crimes in Hackney between 2012-2013. These are the lowest rates of all the boroughs along the EastLondonLines.

The amnesty that began on Monday October 28 and ended last Sunday, November 10 has been called a “great success”.

There are no set plans to arrange a future event.