Zombie knife and machete amnesty

From 24 September, changes to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 will make it illegal to possess ‘zombie style’ knives and machetes.

As a result of the change, which is supported by the NPCC Knife Crime Working Group, it will also be against the law to manufacture, import, sell or supply these items.

Ahead of the change in legislation, the Government is running a UK-wide amnesty, which will run from today, Monday, August 26 until Monday, September 23.

Anyone who currently has any of these items should be encouraged to hand them in at their nearest designated police station. If, after September 24^th, you are found in possession of one of these knives or machetes, you could be prosecuted.

Items can be handed in at any of the following police station front counters:

Wrexham

Former Oriel Gallery, Rhosddu Road, LL11 1AU

Monday – Saturday: 9am – 7pm

Sunday: 9am – 6pm

Rhyl

Wellington Road, LL18 1DA

Monday – Saturday: 9am – 7pm

Sunday: 9am – 6pm

Bangor

Ffordd Gwynedd, LL57 1DT.

Monday: Saturday 9am – 7pm

Sunday: 9am – 6pm

How do I transport the weapons to a police station?

• You must take all reasonable steps to make any item(s) that you are surrendering safe to handle whilst travelling to the police station and whilst on police premises.
• Items must be contained in a manner that allows them to be transported without causing distress or alarm to other members of the public, including members of the public who might be at the designated police station.
• Items must be wrapped up and placed in a sealed bag or box. They must not be carried openly at any time.
• Carrying bladed articles in public without a good reason or lawful authority is an offence. Carrying the items according to these instructions and accompanied by the claim form will allow you to claim that you have a ‘good reason,’ namely that you are about to surrender the articles at your nearest designated police station, if stopped by the police. Once in the police station, you must not take out the item until you are requested to do so by a police officer or member of police staff

The Government is also running a compensation scheme during this amnesty. Find out if the items you are handing in qualify for the scheme on the gov.uk website.

Definition of a ‘zombie style’ knife

A zombie style knife is a bladed weapon with:

• A plain cutting edge
• A sharp pointed end, and
• A blade of over eight inches long

Which also has one or more of the following:

• A serrated cutting edge over two inches long
• More than one hole in the blade
• Spikes
• More than two sharp points in the blade

If you have concerns about someone you know or care about, who is carrying or hiding a knife call the Police on 101 or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or the Fearless campaign website Give Information Anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) Always dial 999 in an emergency.