Zombie knives ban ignores weapons found in the kitchen drawer, says knife crime expert
The impending ban on zombie-style knives and machetes ignores the fact that most knives used to kill and maim people can be “found in the kitchen drawer”, says a knife crime expert from Birmingham City University (BCU).
Natasha Pope, who has worked with West Midlands Police on a number of anti-knife crime initiatives and lectures in forensic psychology at BCU, also says that singling out these kinds of weapons further glamourises them.
“New laws around knife-related offending are always welcome,” said Ms Pope. “However, it is questionable as to what point the focus on specific knife types is helpful.
“There is a risk that by concentrating on specific knives, like machetes and zombie knives, we are further glamourising them and making them more appealing and attractive to young people.
“This is even more concerning given the financial incentives being advertised in response to their surrender.”
The Government is currently running an amnesty scheme that allows people in England and Wales to hand over zombie-style knives and machetes to police without fear of prosecution.
In some cases, they can even claim compensation for each knife that is handed in.
Zombie-style knives were first banned in 2016, but a stricter law takes effect in England and Wales on September 24, when it will be illegal to own a knife with a sharpened blade longer than 8in (20cm) if it has other features, such as a serrated edge and more than two sharp points.
Ms Pope has conducted research that examines youth knife crime within the West Midlands and the efficacy of current school-based anti-knife crime interventions.
She said the ban needs more thought.
“This targeted focus ignores the fact that a large proportion of knives used in knife-related offences and homicides are those found within the kitchen drawer,” she said.
“There should be more focus placed on preventative strategies and early interventions to fully and more effectively address this issue like deterrence measures, mentoring opportunities, and school-based interventions.”
According to latest figures, knife crime offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales increased year-on-year but remained below pre-pandemic levels. In the year ending March 2023, there were around 50,500 offences involving a sharp instrument in England and Wales, which was 4.7 per cent higher than the previous year.
The West Midlands Police area has the highest rate of knife crime offences in England and Wales with 178 offences per 100,000 population in comparison to North Yorkshire, which recorded the lowest rate of 35 offences each, per 100,000 population.