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An amnesty bin for zombie-style knives and machetes is open at Blackwood Police Station, with a ban on the weapons being introduced later this month.
Weapons can be handed in at the station between 9am and 4pm each day until Monday September 23.
From September 24, it will be illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes. They will be added to the list of banned dangerous items, including butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers.
Ahead of the ban, Gwent Police is taking part in the UK Government’s surrender and compensation scheme.
This allows people to hand in knives that fall within the new legislation at police stations, in return for an application for compensation.
What will be banned?
To help reduce knife crime, it will be against the law to own zombie-style knives and machetes from September 24, 2024.
These are 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:
- More than two sharp points in the blade;
- A serrated cutting edge over two inches long;
- Spikes;
- More than one hole in the blade.
Source: Gwent Police
Gwent’s police and crime commissioner, Jane Mudd, has encouraged people who own these weapons to hand them in.
Ms Mudd said: “There really is no good reason for most people to have these kinds of knives and I welcome this new legislation that will make owning them a crime.”
Ms Mudd said she was “deeply committed” to tackling knife crime, and continued: “In my former role as [Newport Council] leader, I was proud to work with Gwent Police to bring the Knife Angel to our communities, driving home its powerful anti-violence message.
“Now, as police and crime commissioner, I fund the charity Fearless, which visits schools across the region, speaking to children and young people about these issues and educating them about the dangers of carrying knives and what this could mean for themselves, their friends and their families.”
Ms Mudd added: “We must do all we can to discourage children and young people from carrying knives of any kind and this new legislation is another step in the right direction. If anyone does have a zombie-style knife or machete then please surrender it to Gwent Police and help to make our communities safer.”
Knives can be surrendered at the following stations until Monday 23 September:
- Blackwood police station: 9am to 4pm
- Cwmbran police station: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
- Ebbw Vale police station: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
- Monmouth police station: 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
- Newport central police station: 8am to 5pm
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