FOI 114/25 Zombie Knives

Enquiry Reference:  FOI: 114-25                                                                               

I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request.  Below is your request and our response.

- The total number of offences recorded by your force involving a 'zombie knife' or machete (taking this to include any knife or sharp instrument which is 8 inches / 20cm long or longer) between:

1. a) We cannot distinguish the size of the blade as this information is not often recorded. 

Please note that the below information provided relies on the officer to define if they believe the blade is a zombie knife, machete etc.  The analyst has used key word searches in the MO for ‘zombie’, ‘machete’ and ‘machette’, and provided all the information we hold BUT not all officers will have specified the type of blade also the crime type does not mean that the blade caused the injury, but it was present during the incident for example, for murder, the person may not have been killed with the blade.

- Please also break down the total number of offences into two categories:

1) Offences involving injuring or fatally wounding someone with a 'zombie knife' or machete (using definition outlined above)

2) Any other offences

1) 23rd May 2024 and 23rd September 2024

Zombie

Injury of fatally wounding – 0

Any other offences - 1

Machete

Injury of fatally wounding – 44

Any other offences - 23

2) 24th September 2024 and 24th January 2025

Zombie

Injury of fatally wounding – 2

Any other offences - 1

Machete

Injury of fatally wounding – 32

Any other offences - 24

Having made enquiries within the Force above is all the information we hold. Please note that all statistical data supplied in relation to Freedom of Information requests is a snapshot of data held at the time the request was received by the Freedom of Information office and is subject to constant change/updates.

The Cleveland Police response to your request is unique and it should be noted that Police Forces do not use generic systems or identical procedures to capture and record data therefore responses from Cleveland Police should not be used as a comparison with any other force response you receive.

If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice

Yours sincerely

Information Rights Decision Maker