Suella Braverman becomes fifth Home Secretary to try to outlaw zombie knives

18 April 2023 , 10:31

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Tories are accused of being slow to act to take zombie knives off the streets (Image: PA)

Slow-to-act Tories have come under fire after Suella Braverman became the FIFTH Home Secretary to announce a ban on zombie knives and machetes since 2016.

She follows in the footsteps of Theresa May, Amber Rudd, Sajid Javid and Priti Patel in announcing a clampdown after botched legislation left a loophole that was frustrating police.

Laws introduced back in 2016 were supposed to stop the weapons being available in private homes.

But bizarrely in order to be classified as an illegal zombie knives, legislation said items must feature "images or words that suggest it is to be used for the purpose of violence”.

Police chiefs have complained that this has left them powerless to act as manufacturers have adapted their designs, and weapons are brazenly being sold online.

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Home Secretary Suella Braverman has announced a consultation on a new zombie knife crackdown (Getty Images)

The Home Office has announced a seven-week consultation on plans to shake-up the law, but Labour have slammed ministers for not getting on top of the situation faster.

Earlier this month, a judge urged jurors to write to their MPs about the "shocking" availability of dangerous weapons online.

Judge Christine Laing KC said after Emadh Miah, 18, was found guilty of ambushing and stabbing Ghulam Sadiq, also 18, with a 22-inch zombie knife: "I advise you to write to your MPs and ask why it is that weapons like the one you saw in this case can be bought from a website legitimately.

"These weapons are there for anybody to purchase and it is beyond me as to why that is."

Back in 2021, then-Home Secretary Priti Patel said those found in possession of the weapons would “face the full force of the law”. She added that the Government would "stop at nothing" to give police the powers they need.

But Labour ’s Yvette Cooper said: "These knives should have been banned years ago. Knife crime devastates lives and rips apart communities and the Government must do all it can to prevent it.

Ghulam Sadiq was stabbed to death with a 22-inch zombie knife last year (Met Police)

"Sadly, the Conservatives have dragged their heels and are only launching a consultation. We have made it our mission in government to halve knife crime over the next decade."

A report by the College of Policing said that hunting knives and machetes were among the most commonly used in fatal stabbings in London in 2019/2

A Home Office consultation document admitted that police are currently unable to seize zombie knives and machetes even if they think it will be used in a serious crime.

In one case, it says, a 44 inch machete was discovered under a drug dealer's bed during a raid, but officers had no powers to seize it.

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Under new proposals, police will be able to take such weapons.

Certain types of the blades which are "designed to look menacing" and "with the intention to threaten" are not currently prohibited but would be outlawed under the measures, the Home Office said.

Labour's Yvette Cooper accused the Government of dragging its heels (PA)

Police would also be given more powers to seize and destroy the weapons while criminals would face tougher sentences for their sale and possession.

While some machetes and similar knives can have "legitimate uses", such as in gardening, criminals are "buying, selling and using larger bladed articles as weapons to intimidate and cause others serious harm", the Home Office warned.

Ms Braverman said: "The thugs wielding these deadly knives aim to terrorise their victims and the public, and too often even carry out horrific or fatal attacks. They are emboldened by the cowardly idea that carrying these blades inflates their own status and respect.

"This can't go on. These plans seek to give the police greater powers to seize and destroy these weapons and impose harsher penalties on the criminals selling them, keeping them off our streets and making communities safer."

Dave Burke