A rise in knife-related crimes across Ealing borough has sparked a London Assembly (LA) member to ask the Mayor for more Police and Crime funding.

Assembly member Dr Onkar Sahota called on Mayor Boris Johnson's office to fund a knife surrender bin in Ealing after the area saw knife wounding and Grievous Bodily Harm go up by 12% in the last 12 months.

In a letter to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Dr Sahota said he was concerned about the rise.

The LA member for Ealing said: "We must do everything in our power to reduce this type of crime before more lives are ruined.

"Alongside other measures, such as the amnesty called for by the London Assembly, a knife bin in Ealing will offer a positive option for people wishing to hand over their weapons.

"Knife bins across London have taken large numbers of knives from the streets and put them into the hands of the police so I would urge MOPAC (Mayor's Office for Police and Crime) to consider funding this proposal.”

18,000 knives taken off the streets

There are currently 30 knife surrender bins located across London, but none are currently in Ealing.

The bins, sealed steel containers that are secured to the ground, give people a secure and anonymous way to dispose of a knife that could otherwise be used as a weapon.

Since their introduction in 2009 the bins have taken over 18,000 knives off the streets and into the hands of the police.

Dr Sahota wrote the letter after the Mayor and Metropolitan Police Commissioner agreed to consider Assembly plans for a London-wide knife amnesty.

He added a knife surrender bin in Ealing would work alongside an amnesty by giving people who wish to dispose of a knife a secure and anonymous way to do so.

Across London, knife crime with serious injuries has gone up 8%, a slower rate than in Ealing.

In February, Mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon welcomed the move by Boris to extend support for charities Redthread and Oasis Youth, whose workers support victims of knife crime.

It came after a London wide Amnesty was proposed in City Hall in response to the increase of stabbings.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson are reported to be considering the move, according to the London Assembly.

During Mayor’s Question Time on December 16 Mr Johnson responded to calls for a knife amnesty saying “I think that the amnesty proposal is something that should be considered.”