NATIONAL WEAPONS AMNESTY

Early day motion 1704, tabled 27 October 1998 by Jim Cunningham (Labour). Signed by 46 members.

That this House welcomes the partnership between West Midlands Police and Coventry City Council in launching a weapons amnesty on 1st October; fully supports its objectives in promoting community safety issues within the City of Coventry, whilst also raising awareness amongst the community about the dangers associated with knife-related crime; notes the amnesty in Phase 2 concentrating on encouraging members of the public to surrender weapons to the police; further notes that Phase 1 was the highly successful Coventry Knife Code which greatly influenced the previous government's support for the Private Members Bill, which was passed by the House in the form of legislation to control the sale of knives; calls on the Government to promote and encourage police and local authorities throughout Britain, to follow the example of the West Midlands Police and Coventry City Council in promoting community safety issues; and congratulates the local newspaper, The Coventry Evening Telegraph, on its promotion and support of the weapons amnesty.

Signatures by party: Labour 41, Liberal Democrat 3, Independent Labour 1, UUP 1.