Nationwide call to surrender all zombie-style knives and machetes
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A nationwide call to hand over zombie-style knives and machetes has been launched by the Government, ahead of these dangerous weapons being banned from our streets.
From 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.
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.
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.
In the West Midlands, knives can be surrendered at the following stations:
Birmingham Local Policing Area
Birmingham Central police station Snow Hill Queensway Birmingham B4 6NQ (Sat Nav users please use B4 6AT) Opening times: 24 hours
Bournville Police Station 341 Bournville Lane Bournville Birmingham B30 1QX Opening times: 8am-10pm
Stechford Police Station 338 Station Road Stechford Birmingham B33 8RR Opening times: 8am-10pm
Sutton Coldfield Police Station Lichfield Road Sutton Coldfield B74 2NR Opening times: 8am-10pm
Coventry Local Policing Area
Coventry Central police station Little Park Street Coventry CV1 2JX Opening times: 8am-10pm
Dudley Local Policing Area
Brierley Hill police station Bank Street Brierley Hill DY5 3DH Opening times: 8am-10pm
Sandwell Local Policing Area
West Bromwich police station Moor Street West Bromwich B70 8HS Opening times: 8am-10pm
Solihull Local Policing Area
Solihull police station Homer Road Solihull B91 3QL Opening times: 8am-10pm
Walsall Local Policing Area
Bloxwich police station Station Street Walsall WS3 2PD Opening times: 8am-10pm
Wolverhampton Local Policing Area
Wolverhampton police station Metro One Campus Bilston Street Wolverhampton WV1 3AA Opening times: 8am-10pm
Individuals can also anonymously dispose of these weapons using safe, surrender bins, a list of locations can be found here. Information about how to surrender a weapon can be found on GOV.UK here.
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.
In the West Midlands, our dedicated team that tackles knife crime, Project Guardian, is also working with specific retailers around bulk surrender during the month.
After 24 September, anyone caught with a zombie-style knife or a machete faces time behind bars.
A number of initiatives are underway across local communities to tackle knife and weapon related crime.
Some examples are:
• Police and community-led weapons sweeps in parks and open spaces. This aims to recover weapons hidden for use in offences.
• Test purchase operations and responsible retailor visits to ensure retailers are complying with the law on the sale of knives.
• A strong focus on the identification, arrest and management of offenders who use knives.
• Proactive police operations within key locations in the community to identify and tackle weapon related crime.
• School and college engagement to ensure students are informed of the law, risks and consequences of carrying knives. This is being supported within secondary schools and colleges with the delivery of random knife bar searches.