PCC succeeds in banning zombie knives

A ban on ‘zombie knives’ will be put through Parliament on July 19 thanks to a campaign by West Midlands police and crime commissioner David Jamieson.

Mr Jamieson has sought a ban on the weapons – which can be up to two feet long and are readily sold online – for a year, campaigning alongside former Minister for Security Karen Bradley and then-Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey.

Section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1998 will be amended to enforce the ban, meaning anyone involved in the manufacture, sale, renting, importation or lending of the blades will face six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine – in line with other bladed weapons.

The legislation will come into full effect in 29 days’ time.

Mr Jamieson said: “This is a real achievement and shows what powerful changes PCCs can make.

“Our streets will be safer following this change in the law. With names such as Head Splitter and Death Dagger, no sensible person wants to see ‘zombie knives’ in circulation and now, after a year of hard work, we will finally see them banned once and for all.

“Strong and swift action here means the sale and importation of these weapons has been outlawed before they became a widespread problem. I am proud of this achievement and welcome the change to the law wholeheartedly.”

Although anyone found carrying a zombie knife publically could previously have been fined £5,000 and sentenced to four years in prison, it was legal to buy the weapons and keep them privately.

The knives quickly became popular with criminal gangs and were often used as a status symbol.

However, global retailer Amazon UK removed zombie knives from its website after Mr Jamieson sent a letter of complaint to the company’s chief executive.

Mr Dromey said the ban is “a victory for Labour’s campaign” to rid the country of dangerous weapons.

He added: “David Jamieson should be congratulated for winning a strengthening of the law to ban zombie knives.”