Ashford knife crime campaigner urges for more to be done ahead of zombie knife ban
It will come into place on the 24th September
An anti knife crime campaigner from Ashford is urging for more to be done despite a ban on zombie knives.
On the 24th September the weapon will be added to a list of prohibited items.
Ahead of this date police are urging for people in possession of the knife to hand them in with the government there will be repercussions for doing so.
It's part of scheme, which will start in less than a week on the 24th of August and run for a month till the 23rd of September.
After, anyone caught with a zombie knife, butterfly knives, samurai swords and push daggers could risk spending time in jail.
Andy Richardson is the CEO of Project Metanoia, a campaign which aims to tackle knife crime in Ashford and across Kent.
He said: "They aren't needed in our homes, they are needed on our streets, and they aren't needed in our society and so if they aren't needed in any capacity what is the point in having one.
"Therefore people should just hand them in and make our streets safer. The ban is a good starting point in doing this and it will make an initial difference, telling people that we want to do something about an issue that has been on the increase.
"However, along side this ban there needs to be education, there needs to be money pumped into prevention works so we can work with young people and those who feel the need to carry a zombie knife.
"Once they're not available, then they may just pick up a kitchen knife or a different kind of knife.
It's all part of the governments plan to halve knife crime within the next 10 years.