Home Office
From 24 September, it will be illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes as they will be added to the list of dangerous prohibited items already banned, including zombie knives, butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers.
Ahead of the new ban coming into force, anyone who has one of these weapons is being urged to hand them over safely and legally.
This scheme? will be run at police stations across England and Wales for four weeks between 26 August and 23 September, without repercussions for surrendering these potentially dangerous knives safely.
Individuals can also anonymously dispose of these weapons using safe, surrender bins,by contacting their local police, council or an anti-knife crime charity to find out aboutalternative options, other than police stations, in their area.
After 24 September, anyone caught with a zombie-style knife or a machete faces time behind bars.
Policing Minister, Diana Johnson said:
Too many people have access to weapons that can lead to devastating, life-changing consequences. There is no legitimate need for a weapon of this kind to be in our homesor on our streets.
That is why we will continue to make sure the tightest restrictions are in place to limit the availability of these lethal weapons. Implementing a ban on zombie-style knives isjust the first step in our ambitious, dedicated plan to halve knife crime within a decade, and will closely be followed by making ninja swords illegal.
It is absolutely crucial that members of the public come forward and safely hand inthese weapons. We are offering people the chance to do the right thing to help make our streets safer, prevent further loss of life and save so many futures.
We cannot do this alone, political, policing and community leaders must work together to bring the knife crime epidemic to an end and offer a better future for our youngpeople.
Participating police stations are spread across the country, and people should contact their designated police station first to get advice on how to package up any weapons and bring them into the station.
This scheme is just one part of the governments pledge to halve knife crime in a decade. Next steps will include further bans, stronger rules to stop online sales, and tough action to stop young peop