More than 200 knives handed in to Essex police for amnesty campaign
15 meet criteria for compensation scheme, with more than 70 still awaiting confirmation.
Dozens of suspected zombie-style knives or machetes were handed in at police station front counters across Essex as part of a national surrender scheme.
Police forces across England and Wales, including Essex Police, participated in the Home Office-led amnesty, which ran from 26 August until 23 September.
Zombie-style knives and machetes are now outlawed by new legislation as of 24 September.
The law covers the manufacture, supply, sale, possession and importation of these weapons.
Ahead of the new law, previous owners of specified zombie knives and machetes were able to submit a claim for compensation while surrendering the weapons at police station front counters.
Throughout the scheme, Essex police saw more than 200 knives of many varieties presented for surrender.
15 have been confirmed by the Home Office to meet the criteria for their compensation scheme, with more than 70 still awaiting final confirmation.
1,564 incidents of knife-enabled crime have been recorded in Essex in the last twelve months, a 5% decrease on pre-Covid levels.
Across this week, 15 knife bins across the county – locations where members of the public can safely deposit bladed items – have been emptied.
Thousands of knives, including machetes, zombie-style knives, swords and even axes were amongst the contents of the bins.
Essex police have told us,
"Each is a weapon removed from the streets of Essex and safely out of the hands of anyone who would use them to do harm."
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Hughes, of our Serious Violence Unit, said:
“I welcome this strengthening of the law, which from this week will allow us to seize these frightening weapons no matter the circumstances – whether they are seized in public or even in private properties.
“The uptake on the surrender scheme has been really positive, but now our attention moves towards this new law and its enforcement.
If you’ve missed the scheme, and you still have an item you want to surrender, there are still 15 knife bins in easily accessible locations across the county.