Cheshire Constabulary joins campaign for the surrender of zombie-style knives and machetes

Cheshire Police will be part of a surrender and compensation scheme for zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes being launched by the Government on Monday 26 August.

The laws around knives are changing. From Tuesday 24 September 2024, it will be illegal to own certain styles of zombie knives and machetes.

From 00:00 on 24 September 2024, it will be an offence to possess zombie-style knives or machetes. The manufacture, importation, sale and general supply of these items will also be prohibited.

Ahead of the law change, a month-long national surrender and compensation scheme has been introduced by the government, allowing legal owners of zombie-style knives and machetes to surrender them to the police and claim compensation if they wish.

Anyone surrendering knives that meet the criteria will be eligible for compensation, under the government scheme. Detailed guidance on the kinds of weapons that will become illegal and eligible for surrender and compensation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compensation-scheme-for-zombie-knives-and-machetes.

You will be able to surrender weapons at one of five main police station Help Desks across Cheshire:

• Crewe Police Station, Crewe Street, Crewe, CW1 2DQ
• Warrington Police Station, Aprley Street, Warrington, WA1 1LQ
• Macclesfield Police Station, Brunswick Street, Macclesfield, SK10 1HQ
• Widnes Police Station, Gerrard Street, Widnes, WA8 6BE
• Chester Police Station, Blacon Avenue, Blacon, CH1 5BD

When bringing items to a police station for surrender, members of the public are asked to wrap it up securely and place it in a sealed bag or box, it must stay covered at all times.

Members of the public need to bring along a completed surrender and compensation claim in case you are stopped by the police on the way to a police station.

Superintendent Andrew Blizzard, Cheshire Police's Knife Crime lead, said:

“Over the past year, crime involving knives and bladed articles has been an increasingly pertinent issue nationwide, so I welcome this change in legislation that will mean from Tuesday 24 September, it will be a criminal offence to possess and sell zombie-style knives and machetes. These knives in particular rarely serve a practical purpose and are mainly used to cause fear and intimidation, so this new law will significantly limit their availability. 

“We are particularly proud that knife crime in Cheshire remains low; but we are seeing a considerable number of people across the county in possession of knives and bladed weapons. This is something that we as a force will not tolerate.

"On a daily basis, our officers do their utmost to keep our Cheshire community weapons-free and a safe place for everyone who works, lives and visits here and we will ensure that this change in legislation will be enforced county-wide.

"I would urge anyone who is in possession of a knife or bladed weapon that is soon to become prohibited, to seriously consider surrendering it to police at one of our five Help Desks across the county.

"Please ensure that any surrendered weapons are appropriately wrapped and are correctly secured when transferring them to the Help Desks, for your own safety and the safety of our officers."

To report any type of crime involving weapons, call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Anyone who knows someone that carries a knife can report it to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

Information can also be passed to the force online via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report.