A person in Oxford has change into one of many first to be charged beneath a brand new regulation banning zombie knives.
Kofie John-Welch, 29, was charged with the possession of an offensive weapon following a search of his house that occurred simply minutes after the ban got here into impact.
Thames Valley Police stated this was one of many first cases that the brand new regulation has been enacted amid a clampdown on lethal zombie knife possessions in England and Wales.
Information obtained by the BBC beneath the Freedom of Info Act confirmed that in 2023 the three sorts of weapons have been talked about in additional than 14,000 crimes recorded by 32 police forces in England and Wales.
In 2019, 7,159 offences involving massive blades have been recorded — rising to 14,195 in 2023.
The BBC stated practically 10,000 of the offences recorded in 2023 concerned machetes, double the quantity from 5 years earlier than.
A ban on proudly owning zombie-style knives and machetes follows a four-week amnesty. Homeowners have been inspired at hand the weapons to police, native authorities, or knife crime charities.
The ban is a part of efforts to cut back knife crime, and campaigners comparable to actor Idris Elba pushed for the massive blades to be outlawed.
Actor Idris Elba attends a knife crime summit with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (not pictured) at Downing Road, London, on September 9, 2024
through REUTERS
The Authorities plans to ban ninja swords sooner or later.
Right here is every part we all know concerning the zombie knife ban.
These are bladed weapons with:
- a plain innovative
- a pointy pointed finish, and
- a blade of over eight inches (20 centimetres) lengthy
Which additionally has a number of of the next:
- a serrated innovative over two inches lengthy
- multiple gap within the blade
- spikes
- greater than two sharp factors within the blade
These knives are often constituted of chrome steel and designed to look menacing, somewhat than for sensible use.
Their look resembles that of weapons seen in zombie apocalypse-themed media, contributing to their intimidating nature, which is why they’re typically linked to violent crime. The ‘zombie’ title is believed thus far to 2011.
When did the ban on them come into drive?
The ban was launched in England and Wales at midnight on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
In 2016, the UK Authorities launched laws banning the sale, import, and possession of zombie knives.
A loophole which means the weapons might be stored and bought if they didn’t have pictures depicting violence on their handles has closed after the Offensive Weapons Act got here into impact.
It’s now unlawful to personal particular sorts of zombie knives and machetes. The regulation prohibits possessing, promoting, manufacturing, and transporting these weapons.
The Authorities web site has extra data right here.
What are the penalties if you’re discovered with prohibited knives?
Folks discovered with these prohibited weapons (even of their drawers at house) might face important authorized penalties, together with imprisonment.
The utmost sentence for possession of banned weapons is about to extend from six months to 2 years.
