Collection of swords and knives handed in to Peterborough Police - as officers explain the law
A collection of swords and knives have been handed in to police in Peterborough – and officers have urged anyone else who has any similar items to surrender them.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Thank you to the member of the public who arranged an appointment to hand in these weapons
“They previously collected the items but realised they were now illegal to own and decided to do the right thing.
“Changes to the Offensive Weapons Act a few years ago meant many weapons such as zombie knives, most curved swords and other items were outlawed.”
Zombie knives are illegal to own – even if kept in private property.
The items handed to police will now be disposed of safely.
What is the law?
Where knives are concerned, it is illegal to:
- sell a knife of any kind to anyone under 18 years old
- carry a knife in public without good reason - unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less, eg a Swiss Army knife
- carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife
- use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife, such as a Swiss Army knife)
The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and a fine of £5,000.
What is a Zombie Knife
“Zombie-style” knives and machetes are described in law as a bladed article with a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, and a blade of more than eight inches in length, which can also have one or more of the following features:
1) a serrated cutting edge (other than a serrated cutting edge of up to two inches next to the handle).
2) more than one hole in the blade.
3) spikes.
4) more than two sharp points in the blade
Anyone who wishes to hand in an item to Cambridgeshire Police should contact them by visiting https://www.cambs.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/