Stroud district joins call to surrender all zombie-style knives and machetes ahead of ban

From midnight on Tuesday 24 September, it will be a criminal offence to own a zombie-style knife or machete.

Starting at midnight on Tuesday 24 September 2024, it will be against the law to possess a zombie-style knife or machete. These items are being added to the list of prohibited offensive weapons under the Criminal Justice Act 1988. A ban on their manufacture, importation, sale, and supply is also being introduced.

To help people dispose of these weapons safely, the Home Office has launched a surrender and compensation scheme. Between Monday 26 August and Tuesday 23 September 2024, people can surrender any zombie-style knife or machete to the police and claim compensation. After this date, owning or carrying one of these items could lead to criminal prosecution.

The type of knives included in the scheme are defined as bladed weapons 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

Before you surrender a knife or machete:

• you must wrap it in something and place is in a sealed bag or box. They must not be carried openly at any time.
• 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.
• some police forces have advised making a specific journey to dispose of your knife rather than carrying it around in public longer than necessary.

In Gloucestershire, there are five police stations taking part in the scheme. They are:

• Stroud
• Cirencester
• Bearlands, Gloucester
• Hesters Way, Cheltenham
• Coleford

Please ensure the police station is open before you travel. You can find these details on the Gloucestershire Constabulary website.

For more information on the surrender scheme, including compensation eligibility, please visit the Government’s website: gov.uk