Cumbria's PFCC backs zombie knife ban
New legislation comes in today making zombie knives illegal to possess
People in Cumbria have been surrendering weapons over the pas few weeks during an knife amnesty in the build up to a national zombie knife ban.
Yesterday was the last day of a national surrender and compensation scheme before new legislation came in today.
The new laws will make it illegal to possess such a weapon.
PFCC David Allen explained how, although it may not be a major issue for Cumbria, but still one that needed to be tackled: "Cumbria is incredibly safe, it is a safe place to live, but we do have crime.
"We certainly have knife crime. In the last 12 months there was 269 arrests for possession of bladed weapons.
"Over 589 weapons were seized. Now that ranges from knives to axes to all sorts. It's a wide definition. The more we can get off the streets of whatever type of bladed instrument the better and the safer people are.
"The knives handed in in the amnesty are destroyed, melted down. Sometimes they'll be used for sculptures made out of knives or used for education. Usually they will be melted down for scrap though."
To safely surrender these items, they must have been:
• made safe to handle for yourself and for the police, and be contained in a manner that allows them to be transported without causing distress or alarm to other members of the public;
• wrapped up and placed in a sealed bag or box. They must not be carried openly at any time;
• be taken out at the police station until you are requested to do so by a police officer or member of police staff.