Surrender and compensation scheme opens ahead of Government’s knife ban

Knife sweeps in London have been conducted as part of Operation Sceptre (Photograph: National Police Chiefs’ Council)

Once the amendment to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 comes into force on 24 September, it will be deemed an offence to possess weapons which meet the specified criteria. The Government’s move aims to reduce the accessibility of some of the deadliest types of knives.

The Home Office surrender and compensation scheme began on 26 August and runs until 23 September. Those who possess a weapon which meets the criteria can surrender it at their nearest designated police station. Compensation will be paid by the Home Office if the weapon(s) being surrendered meet the criteria.

Life-changing consequences

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “Too many people have access to weapons that can lead to devastating and life-changing consequences. There’s no legitimate need for a weapon of this kind to be in homes or on our streets. That’s why we will continue to make sure the tightest restrictions are in place so as to limit the availability of these lethal weapons.”

Johnson added: “Implementing a ban on zombie-style knives is just the first step in our ambitious and dedicated plan to halve knife crime within a decade. This action will be followed by making ninja swords illegal.”

Further, Johnson observed: “It’s absolutely crucial that members of the public come forward and safely hand in these weapons. We are offering people the chance to do the right thing: to help make our streets safer, prevent further loss of life and save so many futures.”

In conclusion, Johnson stated: “We cannot do this alone. Political, policing and community leaders must work together to bring the knife crime epidemic to an end and offer a better future for our young people.”

Different angles

Commander Stephen Clayman is the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for knife crime. Clayman urged: “Tackling knife crime requires all agencies and partners working together and approaching the problem from a number of different angles. Dealing with the accessibility of deadly weapons is key and we are doing all we can to reduce how readily and easily they can end up in the wrong hands. Many of these ‘zombie-style’ knives and machetes are clearly designed to intimidate and cause harm, rather than serve any practical purpose, so the ban will support us by significantly reducing their availability.”

Clayman went on to comment: “I would urge anyone in possession of a knife soon to be become prohibited to do the right thing and surrender it. To be clear, from 24 September you will be liable to arrest and prosecution if found with such a weapon. If you don’t wish to take part in or are not eligible for the compensation scheme, you can surrender any knives or weapons at a suitable knife bin, which are readily available across the country.”

The new legislation follows on from an extensive public consultation conducted in 2023 with proposed measures developed in partnership between the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Knife Crime Working Group.

The Working Group continues to engage with Government and retailers to develop additional measures designed to reduce the availability of knives, particularly so those that ar readily accessible online.

Criteria for weapons

The criteria for weapons which will be illegal to possess after 24 September are as follows:

Weapons sometimes known as ‘zombie-style’ knives or ‘zombie-style’ machetes are bladed article with a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end and a blade of over eight inches in length (the length of the blade being the straight line distance from the top of the handle to the tip of the blade), which also has one or more specific features.

The specified features are a serrated cutting edge (other than a serrated cutting edge of up to two inches next to the handle), more than one hole in the blade, spikes, more than two sharp points in the blade other than a sharp point where the angle between the edges which create the point is an angle of at least 90 degrees (where there’s a curved edge, the angle will be measured by reference to the tangent of the curve) or a sharp point on the cutting edge of the blade near the handle.

No compensation will be payable in respect of a claim where the total sum is less than £30. This means that if an individual has one item to surrender, they will not be eligible for compensation, but if they have three items at £10 each, they will be eligible to claim £30 of compensation for the three items.