Zombie knife and machete surrender ahead of law change

A month-long surrender and compensation scheme is going live next week (Monday 26 August), ahead of a new law making it illegal to own certain styles of zombie knives and machetes.

From Tuesday 24 September 2024, it will be illegal to own certain styles of zombie knives and machetes.

Under the new measures, it will be illegal to possess, sell or manufacture or transport these zombie-style knives and machetes.

Ahead of the law change, a month-long national surrender and compensation scheme has been introduced by the government, allowing legal owners of zombie-style knives and machetes to surrender them to the police and claim compensation if they wish.

Police forces across England and Wales, including Merseyside Police, are participating in the scheme, which runs from 26 August until 23 September 2024.

Anyone surrendering knives that meet the criteria will be eligible for compensation, under the government scheme. Detailed guidance on the kinds of weapons that will become illegal and eligible for surrender and compensation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compensation-scheme-for-zombie-knives-and-machetes.

Surrender scheme in Merseyside

The public can surrender a zombie-style knife or machete at one of 10 General Enquiry Offices across Merseyside:

Main Stations
Open Monday to Friday 10am – 8pm and Saturday 10am – 6pm

• St Anne Street Police Station, Liverpool, L3 3HJ
• Birkenhead Police Station, Wirral, CH41 5EU
• Huyton Police Station, Knowsley, L36 9XU
• St Helens Police Station, WA10 1TG
• Southport Police Station, Sefton, PR9 0LL

Sister Stations
Open Tuesday to Friday 10am – 6pm

• Admiral Street Police Station, Liverpool, L8 8JN
• Wallasey Police Station, Wirral, CH44 1DA
• Kirkby Police Station, Knowsley, L32 8RF
• Newton-Le-Willows Police Station, St Helens, WA12 9BW
• Marsh Lane Police Station, Sefton, L20 5BW

When bringing items to a police station for surrender, members of the public are asked to wrap it up securely and place it in a sealed bag or box, it must stay covered at all times.

Members of the public need to bring along a completed surrender and compensation claim form which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compensation-scheme-for-zombie-knives-and-machetes. Carry the claim form with you in case you're stopped by the police on the way to the police station.

Superintendent Phil Mullally, Lead for Knife Crime and Serious Violence said: “We welcome this new legislation which bans zombie-style knives and machetes and encourage the public to get familiar with the law changes and surrender eligible weapons during the month-long period.

“From Tuesday 24 September 2024, it will be illegal to possess, sell or manufacture or transport zombie-style knives and machetes. This law change broadens the classification of zombie knives, which were banned in 2016, and gives police new powers to seize and destroy these dangerous weapons which feature a blade of over 8 inches in length and other distinct characteristics.

“As police officers we see first-hand the devastation brought about by knife crime and will continue working tirelessly to prevent other lives from being taken.

“This new legislation supports our ongoing commitment to reducing and disrupting serious violence in Merseyside, which includes uniformed hotspot patrols, using powers such as Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs), executing warrants and deploying targeted operations.

“Over the last three years, serious violence has fallen by more than 23%, with 637 fewer offences compared to 21/22. Knife enabled serious violence has reduced by 27.8%, with 341 fewer offences compared to 21/22.  

“The work of our Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP) and partner organisations continues to be an important way to educate and tackle the root causes of knife crime. More than £400,000 will be invested in the year ahead, through our hotspot policing initiative, to reduce the harm violence and antisocial behaviour causes to our communities.”

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell, who oversees the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, said: “There is no good reason for owning a ‘zombie knife’ or machete.

“Such weapons can only cause harm and suffering, so I would urge people to take advantage of this month-long surrender to hand them over to the police ahead of this important law change coming into effect in September.

“Each and every weapon surrendered makes our communities safer.

“Thankfully, we have seen knife crime fall significantly across Merseyside in recent years. But we can never be complacent because, sadly, we know all too well the devastation it brings.

“Merseyside Police is relentless in its work to remove dangerous weapons from our streets and bring those who use them to justice and the strengthening of this law will give them even greater power to act.

“As well as taking robust action against those individuals who arm themselves with a knife, we are determined to prevent incidents from happening in the first place.

“Crucial to this is engaging with our young people to warn them about the dangers of knives and to steer them away from behaviour which could be harmful for themselves or others.

“In the past five years, our Violence Reduction Partnership has engaged with more than 114,000 young people through its wide range of positive interventions, all focused on making them, and our region, safer.”