Zombie style knife ban 'absolutely amazing' for Suffolk

The government announced new legislation that is aimed at removing specific types of knives from circulation.

These are zombie knives or machetes.

An amnesty scheme has been brought in around Suffolk for people to hand in their knives and the knives that meet the criteria will be eligible for compensation.

The amnesty scheme will run between August 26 and September 23 before the law comes in on September 24.

Knives in Suffolk can be handed in at police stations in Princes Street in Ipswich, Raingate Street in Bury St Edmunds and Old Nelson Street in Lowestoft.

Zombie knives are being banned from September 24 (Image: Joe Giddens/PA)

Paul Stansby, co-founder of Lucky 13 Tattoo Studio in Ipswich, has been campaigning against the use of knives since his brother, Dean, was stabbed to death in the town in 2017.

He said: "It's absolutely amazing that they are able to take off not just a knife, but a dangerous looking one which people use as a fashion accessory.

"The sentencing that they're putting in place for this as well, if they're not handed in, is a big step forward.

"Let's hope people who carry them are fearful of the sentence and are able to bring them in.

"I know a lot of the kids involved with gangs that carry them, even with the option of handing them in at a police station, they're not going to or won't want to bring them in.

"Young people need to have safe locations where they are able to put their knives in without having to go to a police station.

Paul Stansby and Jamie Hart have been campaigning against knife crime for a long time (Image: Archant)

"A lot of these kids that carry these knives aren't doing so because they want to cause trouble, they're doing so because they're afraid.

"They would rather have something on them to protect themselves.

"From the work we have done in the community and with our charity work, a lot of these kids don't want to carry a knife, but they're doing it to deter anyone from causing trouble."

Lucky 13 Tattoo Studio owners Paul and Jamie Hart set out to install bleed kits around the town in the event of an incident.

So far, the team are up to 59 boxes with the 60th set to be installed soon.

Mr Stansby continued: "That's a big number for us to be able to reach.

"When we started we thought we'd only get to around five, but it's amazing that we are able to put 60 kits in within our community. It's amazing."

Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner (Image: Newsquest)

Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "I welcome the ban on zombie knives and possession of them.

"I'm supportive of that, but I do think legislation is all very well, but it's not going to stop the problem of knife crime and there's a lot more to do as a society about working with young people, including at schools in the top end of primary school age and activities for youngsters to help them make the right choices in life and not resort to this.

"I think the political system has failed far too many people for 25 years or more, and that's one of the reasons why we keep going with our grants, particularly for young people to try and help them be more employable as we go forward.

"This can only be seen as the first step. We should not be tolerating this sort of violence in society."

Sergeant Steve Wright, who is leading the amnesty scheme for Suffolk police, said: “We welcome these measures that will make it more difficult for people to obtain zombie-style weapons, often used for the purposes of violence, and is an important development that will help us tackle knife-related criminality in Suffolk.

“Whilst the majority of people know that carrying a knife in public is an offence, it’s important that everyone realises that possession of an offensive weapon carries a sentence of up to four years in prison."

Knives can be handed in at Ipswich police station in Princes Street (Image: Charlotte Bond)