Home Secretary James Cleverly has finally banned zombie knives (Image: Getty)
Machetes and zombie knives – dubbed “weapons of war” - will be banned later this year as ministers are concerned they are being used in more gang fights.
James Cleverly said he has “expedited” the ban, meaning anyone caught with these “dangerous weapons” could face jail.
It will be illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or transport zombie knives and machetes from September, officials said.
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Yobs are now being urged to hand the weapons in – before the ban kicks in – as part of a “surrender scheme”.
Labour MP Helen Hayes said an NHS boss had described the blades as “weapons of war”.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said he has expedited the ban (Image: Getty)
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Knife crime continues to take precious lives away, and I am determined to put an end to this senseless violence.
“We must stop these dangerous knives ending up on our streets and in the hands of criminals. We cannot let them be sold to children, and we must give young people a way out of violence.
“That is why I have expedited the ban on zombie-style machetes and we are increasing the maximum sentence for selling knives to under 18s. We will continue to invest in youth services that have prevented thousands of violent injuries.”
Mr Cleverly met police chiefs in Kent to discuss youth violence prevention projects and joined officers on a foot patrol of Gravesend town centre.
Labour said the changes had already been promised by six Conservative home secretaries and "loopholes" mean they do not go far enough to be a "comprehensive ban".
Asked why the legislation has taken so long, Mr 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.
"So I'm very pleased we're taking action now and we'll be determined to get these knives off the streets."
The Government is also seeking to toughen the penalties for people possessing banned weapons by increasing a maximum sentence from six months to two years.
A surrender and compensation scheme will be introduced from the 26 August.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also vowed to take a tougher stance on knife crime, saying anyone caught with a blade “will carry consequences”.
Actor Idris Elba has launched a campaign to end knife crime (Image: Getty)
Home Secretary James Cleverly (Image: Getty)
He said: “Too many young people are being drawn into squandering their life chances by getting involved in crime. A government that I lead won’t think we can press release away soaring youth crime.”
The Government put forward plans to ban some zombie-style knives in August last year, but Labour MP Helen Hayes said this is "insufficient" because the ban does not cover all offensive weapons, such as swords.
She told MPs on Tuesday: “The communities I represent, and communities across the country, cannot wait any longer.
“Young people are dying on our streets because in the words of the clinical director of emergency medicine at my local hospital 'weapons of war' are readily available to buy on the internet and have delivered to their doorsteps.
“The ban that the Government is proposing is insufficient, it is too narrow and it would leave the perpetrators of violence able to shift to a different weapon of choice, such as a sword.
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“My ban would extend to all zombie knives, Rambo knives, machetes and ninja swords and it would cover the sale, marketing and possession of these weapons.
“There are very few legitimate reasons to have a hunting knife or a sword in London, or indeed any area of the country, and a licencing scheme with rigorous age verification could be introduced for any such legitimate purchases.
“This issue is urgent, no family should have to endure the pain of losing a young person with their whole lives ahead of them."
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