400 crimes reported to Lincolnshire Police involved zombie-style knives or machetes in 3 and a half years

We can exclusively reveal there's been almost 400 crimes reported to Lincolnshire Police which involved zombie-style knives or machetes in the last 3 and a half years,

We've gathered the figures as it is now illegal to possess such weapons -

The ban has been introduced by the Government in an effort to reduce knife crime

Further data shows the force recorded that of those 400 crimes - over a quarter involved someone under 18.

I'm really glad they're being taken off the streets and made illegal

We've spoken to Sergeant Melanie Standbrook who leads the force's in-school education about the situation.

She told us: "We're not talking about a knife that you're going to cook fruit with in your kitchen and not take outside."

"We're talking about glorified knives that people are putting in rucksacks."

"They they're go out to show them off or even use them sadly."

"For me I think education is really really important. "

"I think people are seeing them on the internet - they're seeing on social media."

"They're quite a glorified knife and they look pretty so actually I'm really glad they're being taken off the streets and made illegal."

Hopefully it will stop young people from putting knives in their bags in the first place

"It stops that - I really want a knife that looks like this."

"For me it's a real positive move."

"In Lincolnshire you can hand them in at our main police stations - Boston, Grantham, Gainsborough, Lincoln, Louth and Skegness."

"You won't be eligible for compensation."

"You just have to be mindful that when you bring them into the police station you are carrying an illegal weapon."

"You may be asked questions about where you got it from but it doesn't stop you from handing them in."

"Apart from anything else hopefully it will stop young people from putting knives in their bags in the first place but also it will help young people challenge their friends as well."

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