Suffolk Police say the amount of weapons collected shows a need for surrender bins
People who currently possess zombie-style knives and machetes are being urged to hand them in to police ahead of a ban coming into force next month.
Moves to ban zombie knives and machetes have been welcomed by Suffolk Police.
The Home Office said the new legislation which comes into force next month (24 September 2024) will see more knives with no practical use taken off the streets.
Police officers are also being given more powers to seize and destroy the weapons as well as the ability to increase the sentencing of anyone caught carrying them.
Leading up to this, people who currently possess zombie-style knives and machetes are being urged to hand them in to police.
Currently, these items can be given to police without individuals being arrested or prosecuted and they can actually gain compensation for handing these in.
This is continuing until the 23rd of September.
What's included in the new legislation?
Increasing the maximum sentence for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of such weapons to two years.
A new offence is also being introduced - possessing bladed articles “with the intention to endanger life or cause fear of violence”.
The Government said the measures will become law “when Parliament allows” following a public consultation.
In Suffolk, Sergeant Steve Wright told us they're making sure that there are "no premises that are selling these weapons illegally."
They are also working with partners in trading standards to further check these weapons are not being sold.
"There's no justification why anyone should ever carry a knife."
Another part of the scheme is trying to educate the public on the dangers of carrying a knife.
Sergeant Steve Wright told us Suffolk police are trying to emphasise this message.
"There will be reasons why individuals carry them and all we need to do is try and get into people's mindset that it's a terrible thing to carry a knife and we need to stop that."
Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris welcomed the announcement.
He said: “Knife crime destroys lives and can have a huge impact on communities so we welcome any measures that help remove these weapons from the streets.
“But the Government has to make sure it gives its full backing to the police officers who will be enforcing this new legislation and in doing so putting themselves in harm’s way.
“And we would also urge the courts to use any new sentencing powers to their full
extent to ensure anyone convicted of carrying an illegal knife or blade is dealt with appropriately.”
The possession of zombie knives - defined as a blade with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence - is already illegal.
Under the new measures, the definition will include any bladed weapon more than eight inches long with a plain-cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade or multiple sharp points like spikes.
Policing minister Chris Philp said the newly-prohibited weapons “serve no other purpose but to inflate criminal egos and endanger lives” and there is “no reason” to own them.
He said: “That is why we are banning these knives and making sentencing more severe, so our communities can be reassured that this violent criminality will face the punishments they deserve, and lives will be saved.”