Moves to ban zombie knives and machetes welcomed

31 August 2023

Moves to ban zombie knives and machetes have been welcomed by Suffolk Police Federation.

The Home Office said new legislation will see more knives with no practical use taken off the streets.

Police officers will be given more powers to seize and destroy them and sentences for anyone caught carrying them are to be increased.

The maximum sentence for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of such weapons will be two years and a new offence of possessing bladed articles “with the intention to endanger life or cause fear of violence” will be introduced.

The Government said the measures will become law “when Parliament allows” following a public consultation.

Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris welcomed the announcement.

He said: “Knife crime destroys lives and can have a huge impact on communities so we welcome any measures that help remove these weapons from the streets.

“But the Government has to make sure it gives its full backing to the police officers who will be enforcing this new legislation and in doing so putting themselves in harm’s way.

“And we would also urge the courts to use any new sentencing powers to their full 

extent to ensure anyone convicted of carrying an illegal knife or blade is dealt with appropriately.”

The possession of zombie knives - defined as a blade with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence - is already illegal.

Under the new measures, the definition will include any bladed weapon more than eight inches long with a plain-cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade or multiple sharp points like spikes.

Policing minister Chris Philp said the newly-prohibited weapons “serve no other purpose but to inflate criminal egos and endanger lives” and there is “no reason” to own them.

He said: “That is why we are banning these knives and making sentencing more severe, so our communities can be reassured that this violent criminality will face the punishments they deserve, and lives will be saved.”

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