A BARNSLEY hairdresser has become the latest to sign up to a scheme in which barbers become a safe haven for people to deposit knives and receive advice on knife crime.

Sarah Charles, the owner of Kwik Kutz on High Street, Wombwell, was made aware of the Barbers Against Blades ‘Fade the Blade’ campaign by Tony Batty, another barber who became the first in the borough to sign up to the scheme last year.

It sees barber shops, such as Tony’s on Racecommon Road, Barnsley, become drop-off points as well as ad-hoc information services for people concerned about knife crime.

Shops show Barbers Against Blades branding, with customers able to make dedicated appointments where as well as a haircut, they can get confidential advice - the thinking being that barbers get to know their clients more personally than most.

Any knives handed over are then given to police, or visiting PCSOs, to be destroyed.

Sarah said: “I’ve known Tony for ages. I thought what he was doing looked like a really good idea.

“I just put it out on Facebook and within an hour a lady from the charity shop across the road (Briony’s Gift) contacted me.

“She said they get all sorts of knives in and they never know what to do with them.

“I’m just trying to help my community which has done so much for me. I’ve been here 20 years and people in Wombwell have always supported me in that time.”