EditorFrom 24 September, it will be illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes as they are added to the list of dangerous prohibited items already banned, including zombie knives, butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers.
The changes to the Criminal Justice Act will also prohibit the manufacture, importation, sale and general supply of such weapons.
Ahead of the new ban coming into force, anyone who has one of these weapons is being urged to hand them over – safely and legally.
Police say the surrender scheme will allow people to hand in knives that fall within the new legislation at police stations, in return for an application for compensation. The scheme runs for four weeks between 26 August to 23 September, without repercussions for surrendering these potentially dangerous knives safely.
Superintendent Esyr Jones, knife crime lead for South Wales Police, urged anyone currently in possession of such a weapon to take the opportunity to dispose of it safely during the month.
Supt Jones said: “Knife crime continues to affect only a small minority of our population, but that small minority is still too many.
“We are continuing to work hard to ensure it isn’t a problem which escalates in south Wales, through our multi-agency #NotTheOne education and awareness campaign.
“But we will also be relentless in bringing perpetrators to justice.
“These style of knives and machetes are clearly designed to intimidate and cause harm, so as a police service we welcome this ban.
“I’d urge anyone in possession of such a weapon to do the right thing and take this opportunity being afforded to them ahead of the ban being introduced.”
During the surrender month, zombie style machetes and knives can be surrendered at the following stations in the South Wales Police area:
- Swansea Central
- Neath
- Merthyr Tydfil Bridewell
- Bridgend Bridewell
- Pontypridd
- Barry
- Cardiff Bay
- Cardiff Central
In Dyfed-Powys, knives can be surrendered at the following stations:
- Llanelli Police Station – SA14 8QN
- Carmarthen Police Station – SA312PD
- Ammanford Police Station – SA18 2LS
- Aberystwyth Police Station -SY23 1PH
- Cardigan Police Station – SA43 1EW
- Haverfordwest Police Station – SA61 1PF
- Llandrindod Wells Police Station – LD1 5DF
- Brecon Police Station – LD3 8HR
- Newtown Police Station – SY16 1EN
Anyone making a compensation claim can do so at the point of surrendering the weapon at their local police station. Police forces will forward their application on to the Home Office to be processed.
After 24 September, anyone caught with a zombie-style knife or a machete faces time behind bars.
#DyfedPowysPolice #knifeCrime #knives #NotTheOne #SouthWalesPolice #zombieKnife
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