Zombie knife owners hand in 19 weapons to police

There are 19 fewer zombie knives on the streets after owners handed them into a police force as part of a national surrender and compensation scheme.

Cambridgeshire Police collected the large knives from drop-off points where people had surrendered them; they included 14 at Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough and five at Parkside Police Station in the city over the last four weeks.

A new law came into force on Tuesday banning zombie knives, but anyone who has surrendered one can apply for £10 or more in compensation from the Home Office.

Insp Karl Secker said: “These weapons have no place in society and are now illegal to own. Those ignoring the scheme run the risk of prosecution.

A zombie knife or machete is defined as a bladed weapon more than eight inches (20cm) long with a "plain cutting edge and sharp-pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade, or multiple sharp points like spikes".

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said a "large number" of other knives were also surrendered.

Insp Secker said: “I’d like to thank those who chose to dispose of knives that did not meet the criteria for compensation.

“We will continue our regular efforts to tackle knife crime with regular amnesties, work with local schools, and patrolling areas identified as hotspots.”

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.