Police crackdown on 'zombie knives'

Police in South Devon are taking part in a nationwide crackdown on 'Zombie' knives.

The month-long government scheme has started this week and aims to to remove zombie-style knives and machetes from the streets.

A new law will come into force from Tuesday September 24 making it illegal to own certain styles of ‘zombie’ knives and machetes.

Zombie-style knives and Zombie-style machetes are described in law as a bladed article with a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, and a blade of over eight inches in length (in a straight-line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade), which may also have one or more of the following features - a serrated cutting edge; more than one hole in the blade; spikes; more than two sharp points in the blade

The government scheme enables owners of zombie-style knives and machete weapons to surrender them. Anyone surrendering knives that meet the criteria will be eligible for compensation.

Devon and Cornwall Police has identified multiple police stations to receive surrendered weapons and compensation claims from members of the public. These stations include Newton Abbot and Torquay.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Fleetwood, knife crime lead for Devon & Cornwall Police said: “Devon and Cornwall region is the one of the safest areas to live with the second lowest overall rate of crime in the country. Knife crime is not a major issue in our region, however we take it very seriously and will continue to educate the public and aim to remove knife crime from the streets.

“Possession of banned weapons, even if just in a drawer at home, can mean a prison sentence of more than four years."

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “People may not even be aware that it soon becomes illegal for them to own a zombie knife they might have bought years ago – even if they keep it at home.

“I’d urge anyone with a knife that meets the criteria to take this opportunity to surrender it and claim compensation."