We all have seen the increasing and alarming amount of knife crimes, some of us even have friends ho have had their children attacked and are increasingly frustrated at their inability to protect their children from harm when they are simply playing with friends or going to the take away.

My frustration has been mainly in my inability to help these people, my friends, and put their mind at ease. I say things like the police will deal with it, and that eventually they will get on top of things. Until today I believed that this is what would happen.

Today I took my bin liner out and went to place it in the bin, there sat in the bottom is a very large knife, I didnt place it there and it had to have been put there after thursday when the bin men came.

As any concerned citizen would I called the police to inform them of my find.

The conversation went something like this

Me: I thought I had better call as I have just found a rather large knife in my dustbin
Police: Oh!
Me: Just in case you know there was anything outstanding on your files?
Police: Which number did you call?
Me: Erm this number, the local station xxxxxx
Police:Oh!
Me: Erm the knife?
Police: Oh yes, well we have nothing outstanding on knives, whats it like?
Me: Very large, like a butchers knife
Police: Oh, well, I could send some one to get it but we are rather busy.
Me: So someone putting a very large knife in my bin over the last few days is of no consequence then?
Police: Well no, you were right to report it and if it is really bothering you I will get someone to dispose of it, but it could be a few days.
Me: No, I wouldn't want to put you out, I have covered it and will get someone to dispose of it, I just wanted to make sure I did the right thing.
Police: Yes you did
Me: Right thank you good afternoon

I dont know if any of you noticed the missing parts of that conversation? For those of you that did, well done, correct he did not take either my name or my address, nor did he ask me for my number which is always withheld!

If they suddenly discover that there is an outstanding knife crime from another district he will not know where to go.

I admit the knife didnt look as if it had been used, but I didnt get that close to it, but that is irrelevant, someone had obviousely intended to use it at some point.

It is no wonder that knife crime is rife when the police are too busy to care!