Following calls from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner back in the summer, so-called ‘Zombie Killer’ knives look set to be banned from our streets.
David Jamieson today welcomed news of the proposed ban – and urged the Home Office to enforce it as soon as possible.
The brutal weapons, which are up to 2ft in length, include several serrated blades and have no practical usage, can be ordered online for as little as £8 and are being increasingly used by criminal gangs as status symbols.
The Home Office and police forces across the country are now pushing for a total ban on the knives, which are touted by online vendors as ‘collectors’ items’.
The Commissioner first expressed concern at the sale of the weapons back in the summer of 2015. He called for a ban and for anyone in possession of such a blade to drop it into one of the region’s knife surrender bins.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “I would like to see a nationwide ban on these weapons – which have no practical usage whatsoever – brought in as soon as possible and I am calling on the Home Office to make it a priority.
“These brutal weapons have no place in civilised society: their only aim is to intimidate and cause harm.
“I find it particularly unsettling that, due to their bold colours and links to films and TV shows, they appear to be aimed at the younger generation and in some way glamourise knife crime.
“The fact that they can be bought online for as little as £8 is also distressing and the government needs to do all it can to rid our streets of these vile objects.
“I would again plead with anyone who has such a weapon to do the right thing and use one of our knife surrender bins.
“But as shocking as these knives are, it is worth remembering that knife crime in the West Midlands has dropped significantly. Last year, there were 1,555 offences, compared to 3,942 the 10 years previous.”
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