Third crackdown on zombie knives introduced - but Labour says it's 'too little too late'
The government announced it was going to introduce new regulations on the blades five months ago after they were first banned in 2016.
Thursday 25 January 2024 13:45, UK
The government has announced a third attempt to crackdown on zombie knives in a bid to close "loopholes" in its previous efforts to ban the weapons.
The long-promised ban will not come into force until the autumn, but the legislation will be introduced to parliament on Thursday.
The government defended the delay amid criticism from Labour that the ban is "too little to late" and excludes other dangerous types of knives.
Previous attempts to ban zombie knives have defined them as having a cutting or serrated edge and "images or words that suggest that it is to be used for the purpose of violence".
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But the new law will mean that blades without any logos will also be recognised if they have other key features, such as a cutting or serrated edge, the Home Office said.
This is the government's third attempt at banning the blades since 2016.
It comes after actor launched the Don't Stop Your Future campaign, calling for an immediate ban on these knives.
However, policing minister Chris Philp denied the Tory party has only acted following the push by the British actor, telling GB News: "These measures were announced about three or four months ago... this was all in progress already."
The new legislation will make it illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or transport zombie-style knives and machetes.
Elba called the announcement a "step in the right direction".
However, he said he had "concerns" about whether the legislation was achievable, telling BBC Breakfast: "We've seen in the past that it hasn't achieved, in fact you see knife crime rise in certain instances."
He pointed out other weapons, such as swords, are still not included in the legislation.
Mr Philp acknowledged this during Thursday's broadcast round, and suggested the ban could be expanded again.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "A regular sword, like the sort a historic soldier might carry, would probably not qualify."
He added that if the government finds in the future that other weapons can be brought into scope, "then we can do another statutory instrument like the one we're doing today to ban those".
The government that it planned to introduce the tougher regulations.
Asked why it had taken so long, Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "We have already taken action to make the carrying of zombie knives illegal.
"When I became home secretary, I made the immediate decision to go further to put forward this secondary legislation to support what we've already done to make the possession of zombie knives illegal and to close that loophole."
A surrender scheme will be introduced ahead of the new regulations, which won't come into force until September.
The government also wants tougher penalties for those who possess the knives - increasing the maximum sentence from six months to two years.
Ban 'goes nowhere near far enough'
According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, knife crime offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales rose year-on-year but have not yet returned to levels seen before the COVID pandemic.
Some 48,716 offences were recorded in the 12 months to September 2023, a 5% rise from 46,367 in the previous 12 months.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the government's latest ban "goes nowhere near far enough and it is also too little, too late".
"It doesn't include ninja swords, it doesn't include a whole series of dangerous weapons," she told broadcasters during a visit in Buckinghamshire.
She said the "penalties also aren't strong enough" and the ban is "still not going to come in until the autumn".
"We need much faster action, at a time when knife crime has gone up by a further 5% this year, 77% increase since 2015," she said.
"This is an epidemic, we need action."
Labour is focusing on a youth programme to tackle knife crime, pledging £100m for a nationwide initiative to support young people at risk of being drawn into violence.
Alongside the programme, it is also promising "real consequences" for those who offend, with an end to "empty warnings and apology letters" for those guilty of possession.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer likened the intervention to SureStart - a flagship policy of the New Labour government to deliver services and support to young children and their families.
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Downing Street said the long lead-in time for the ban was necessary so the changes can be analysed and scrutinised through parliament.
"I don't think people would want to avoid scrutiny of our laws," the prime minister's spokesman said.
"At the same time, we are giving people in possession of these knives the opportunity to hand them in before these legal implications come into force.
"That's what we did with a previous ban implementing a surrender and compensation scheme."