National call to surrender all zombie-style knives and machetes

Those who own dangerous weapons are being urged to hand them into police stations under a Government scheme asking people to hand in zombie knives and machetes before they are officially banned.

From 24 September, it will be illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes as they will be included in the list of dangerous, prohibited items already banned which includes zombie knives, butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers.

Last week the Government launched a month-long surrender scheme to allow people to hand these weapons in safely and legally, before the ban comes into effect.

The surrender scheme will allow people to hand in knives that fall within the new legislation at police stations, in return for an application for compensation. The scheme runs for four weeks between 26 August to 23 September, without repercussions for surrendering these potentially dangerous knives safely.

Knives can be surrendered at the following stations:

• Middlesbrough Police Station, Bridge Street West, Middlesbrough, TS2 1AB. Opening times Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm.

• Stockton Police Station, Thistle Green, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1TZ. Opening times Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm.

• Hartlepool Police Station, Avenue Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AJ. Opening times Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm.

• Kirkleatham Police Station, Troisdorf Way, Redcar, TS10 5AP. Opening times Monday to Sunday 8am to 8pm.

Individuals can also anonymously dispose of these weapons using safe surrender bins at these stations.

Anyone making a compensation claim can do so at the point of surrendering the weapon at their local police station. Police forces will forward their application on to the Home Office to be processed.

After 24 September, anyone caught with a zombie-style knife or machete faces time behind bars.

The surrender and compensation claim form and full guidance is available on the Gov.uk website: Compensation scheme for 'zombie' knives and machetes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Baker said: “Cleveland Police welcomes any initiative to tackle violence and weapon related crime, and this will enable some of these weapons to be handed into us safely and legally prior to the ban coming into force on the 24th September. As soon as it does, anyone caught in possession of a zombie-style knife or machete will be arrested and put before the courts. If you have possession of these weapons in your home police will also have powers to seize these items.

“Bladed weapons can always be handed into us, using the amnesty bins at each of our main police stations in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Hartlepool.

“Cleveland Police continue their work to tackle knife crime within our local communities, including proactive police operations in identified hotspot areas to tackle weapon related crime. Officers also carry out regular test purchase operations and responsible retailor visits to ensure retailers are complying with the law on the sale of knives. The maximum penalty for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of these newly proscribed weapons will also be increased from six months to two years, as will the maximum penalty for sales to under-18s.

“There is a strong focus on the identification, arrest and management of offenders who use knives, whilst we regularly run prevention and engagement programmes in schools and colleges to ensure students are informed of the law, risks and consequences of carrying knives.”