Recent Amendments to the Criminal Justice Act 1988

From 24 September 2024 the Criminal Justice Act 1988 will be amended and the possession of “Zombie style knives” and “Zombie style machetes” in a private place will become an offence. A zombie style knife is a bladed article with a blade length of over eight inches with either a serrated edge, multiple holes in the blade, spikes or two sharped points. It will also become an offence to manufacture, import, sell or supply zombie style knives.

Prohibited Weapons in Private Places

Since July 2021 it has been an offence to possess the following weapons in a private place: 

•    Knuckledusters 

•    Zombie knives 

•    Death star knives 

•    Swordsticks 

•    Swords with a curved blade over 50 centimetres 

•    Shuriken, shaken, or death star

•    Balisong or butterfly knife

•    Telescopic truncheon 

•    Blowpipe or blow gun 

•    Kusari gama 

This list is not exhaustive and there are many other items that are now illegal to own or possess.

It can be a nasty surprise if the police discover one of these weapons in your home and suddenly you are faced with a criminal charge. Unfortunately, the previous amendments that criminalised possession of these weapons in a private place were not widely publicised and many people unknowingly received a criminal conviction for possessing these weapons in their home. The law does not offer a defence to a person who claims to be unaware of these amendments. The maximum sentence for possessing a prohibited weapon in a private place is six months. There are limited defences available such as showing the weapon has historical importance. 

Surrendering Prohibited Weapons

For those who already possess these knives it may be wise to bring them to a designated surrendering point in the UK-wide amnesty scheme. This scheme will be running from Monday 26 August until Monday 23 September 2024. 

If you decide to surrender a Zombie Style Knife you may be entitled to compensation of £10 per zombie knife, subject to the minimum payment available being set at £30. If the weapon is of a higher value and you can evidence this value, then more compensation may be available. 

Please take sensible steps when transporting your knives to the surrendering point. You should ensure the blade is sheathed by a wrap or piece of cardboard and placed in a secure box. 

You can surrender other prohibited weapons at the police station, but no compensation will be available.

The following police stations are participating in the amnesty scheme: 

Derbyshire

•    St Mary’s Wharf Police Station (Prime Parkway, Derby, DE1 3AB)

•    Chesterfield North Divisional Headquarters (Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, S40 1QP)

•    Buxton Police Station (The Silverlands, Buxton, SK17 6QJ)

Nottinghamshire

•    Beeston Police Station (Foster Avenue, Beeston, NG9 1AB) 

•    Broxtowe Police Station (Bilborough, Nottingham, NG8 6LL) 

•    Bulwell Police Station (Bulwell, Nottingham, NG6 8NA) 

•    Central Police Station Byron House (2a Bryron House, Maid Marion Way, Nottingham, NG1 4BH)

•    Kirkby in Ashfield Partnership Hub (Council Offices, Urban Road, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 8DA)  

•    Mansfield Police Station (Great Central Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 2HQ)

•    Newark Police Station (Queens Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1LJ) 

•    Ollerton Police Station (Forest Road, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, NG22 9QZ) 

•    Oxclose Lane Police Station (Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6FZ) 

•    Radford Road Police Station (Radford Road, Nottingham, NG7 5GX) 

•    Retford Police Station (Exchange Street, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 6BT) 

•    St Anns Police Station (St Anns Well Road, Nottingham, NG3 3HR) 

•    Worksop Police Station (Potter Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 2AL) 

If you require more information of the surrender and compensation scheme please visit the police website directly by clicking on the following link: 

https://www.nottinghamshire.police.uk/notices/zk/zombie-style-knives-machetes-surrender-compensation-scheme/

Seeking Legal Advice

At Elliot Mather, our dedicated Criminal team offer friendly and professional advice. We understand that going through the criminal procedure is distressing for all concerned. 

Our team are experienced in representing clients who have been alleged to have committed a broad range of crimes. It is vital that you contact us as soon as possible to discuss your circumstances. 

Location 

Our Solicitors are able to provide expert advice across the country with a network of offices based in: Chesterfield, Nottingham, Mansfield and Derby. 

How to get in contact 

Our team are on hand to help you and can assist wherever you are based. Please call us on 0330 333 2613 for a no-obligation, initial discussion or email enquiries@elliotmather.co.uk and we will call or email you back.

How to make contact out of hours 

We operate a call out system, meaning that representation from our expert criminal law team can be requested at any time of the day or night.  The police will contact a call centre who will then telephone us immediately.

If you require assistance from one of our criminal defence solicitors when out of our normal office hours, it is vital that you call us on:

•    Chesterfield: 07717802850

•    Derby: 07776240152

•    Mansfield: 07741592301

•    Nottinghamshire: 07741592301

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