Zombie knife surrender scheme launched before ban in September

A zombie knife and machete amnesty scheme has been launched, ahead of their ban next month.

Police stations across the country, including six in Hull and East Riding, will accept such knives handed into them, and compensation will be possible in some cases. Hull North and Cottingham MP Dame Diana Johnson has said it is absolutely crucial that members of the public come forward and safely hand in such weapons.

The amnesty scheme began on August 26 and ends on September 23. From September 24, the law will change to mean anyone caught with a zombie-style knife or a machete faces potential imprisonment.

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The zombie knife scheme is separate to the annual Operation Sceptre scheme ran by police forces for a week each year, where people can safely dispose of weapons with the police. This year's Operation Sceptre ran in the spring.

"Too many people have access to weapons that can lead to devastating, life-changing consequences," Diana Johnson said ahead of the amnesty scheme's launch. Ms Johnson, the policing minister, continued: "There is no legitimate need for a weapon of this kind to be in our homes or on our streets.

"That is why we will continue to make sure the tightest restrictions are in place to limit the availability of these lethal weapons. Implementing a ban on zombie-style knives is just the first step in our ambitious, dedicated plan to halve knife crime within a decade, and will closely be followed by making ninja swords illegal.

"It is absolutely crucial that members of the public come forward and safely hand in these weapons. We are offering people the chance to do the right thing – to help make our streets safer, prevent further loss of life and save so many futures.

"We cannot do this alone, political, policing and community leaders must work together to bring the knife crime epidemic to an end and offer a better future for our young people." Zombie knives and machetes are defined as weapons with blades over eight inches (20cm) in length that normally have a serrated cutting edge.

Possession of the weapons in public is already illegal. However, the law change will close a loophole that allows them to be kept and sold if they do not have images depicting violence on their handles.

A full list of Humberside Police stations in Hull and East Riding participating in the scheme is below:

• Beverley Police Station, New Walk, Beverley, HU17 7AF
• Bridlington Police Station, Ashville Street, Bridlington, YO16 4EW
• Clough Road Police Station, Clough Road, Hull, HU5 1SW
• Goole Police Station, 2 Estcourt Terrace, Goole, DN14 5AB
• Osborne Street Police Station, Regency House, 55 Osborne Street, Hull, HU1 2NW
• Pocklington Police Station, 37 George Street, Pocklington, York, YO42 2DH

Compensation will be available for handing the knives in during the amnesty period, where the value exceeds £30 or more. The standard compensation per knife is £10, meaning a minimum of three knives handed in will trigger compensation. Possible greater compensation per knife may be awarded if sufficient evidence of its value is provided on surrendering the item to police.

The number of knife possession offences in Humberside has been stable over the last three years, according to Home Office figures. Hull has seen a decrease.