Zombie Knives Banned In England And Wales

A ban on the sale, importation and manufacture of zombie knives comes into effect across England and Wales today (Thursday 18 August). Tackling knife crime is a priority for the Government and today’s ban is part of our wider on-going work with the police, retailers and voluntary sector groups to reduce violence and knife crime. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Legislation coming into effect today means all 43 police forces across England and Wales now have the power to tackle so-called ‘zombie killer’ knives. The amendment to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 means zombie knives are now listed as an offensive weapon, and police officers can now charge anyone caught selling, manufacturing or importing these knives under the Act. The knives, which are often referred to as ‘zombie knives’, ‘zombie killer knives’, and ‘zombie slayer knives’, can have cutting blades of up to 25 inches, have a serrated edge and include images or words that glamorise violence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police forces across England and Wales are taking a range of action to tackle knife crime, including carrying out coordinated weeks of action under Operation Sceptre. In February, thirteen police forces undertook coordinated action against knife crime as part of Operation Sceptre with support from the Government which involved targeting habitual knife carriers, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives from identified retailers, and use of surrender bins. Further weeks of action took place in April and June, and activity is being planned for October this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Knife Enabled Crime, said: Zombie knives are absolutely horrific weapons. Forces are determined to reduce the harm caused by these and all other dangerous weapons. There is no place for knife crime within society and this ban is further commitment to keeping communities safe.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism Sarah Newton said: “This Government will act wherever necessary to cut crime and keep our communities safe. Zombie killer knives glamorise violence and cause devastating damage – they have no place whatsoever in our society. We committed to banning the sale, manufacture and importation of these dangerous weapons. With the ban now becoming law, we are delivering on our commitment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Supt Jane Banham at North Wales Police added “North Wales Police fully support the ban on so called ‘zombie’ knives that comes into effect across England and Wales today. Those who carry knives of this type must realise there is a consequence to their actions. They are capable of inflicting terrible injuries and so it is reassuring to see legislation imposing a ban on their sale, importation and manufacture. Our message is a simple one, please don’t carry knives and if you are concerned about those in our community who do then let us know.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On 23 March the Government published the Modern Crime Prevention Strategy which sets out a range of measures to strengthen our response to knife crime including working with the police and industry to ensure there are effective controls on the sale of knives, identifying and spreading best practice, delivering measures designed to deter young people from carrying knives, and passing legislation to ban the sale and importation of ‘zombie knives’ which glamorise violence. Delivering this new ban on zombie knives fulfils a key commitment we made to ban these dangerous weapons. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​