Zombie knives to be banned this week in victory for Express & Star

Crime chiefs today praised this newspaper after our investigation exposed the legal sale of these deadly weapons and forced a changed in the law.

From this week it will be illegal to sell, buy, lend, or manufacture the blades with names such as 'head splitter' and 'decapitator'.

Those breaking the law face up to four years in prison.

West Midlands Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Ashley Bertie said: "The Express & Star got the ball rolling on this issue and have played a key part in this change in the law.

"I would like to thank the newspaper and its journalists for all their hard work. This shows what a strong local newspaper can achieve."

The knives can have cutting blades of up to 25 inches, have a serrated edge and include images or words that glamorise violence.

The amendment to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 will ban the sale, manufacture, rental or importation of knives often referred to as 'zombie knives', 'zombie killer knives' and 'zombie slayer knives' from Thursday in England and Wales.

Following discussions between the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive, Minister of Justice Claire Sugden has confirmed she will take forward the necessary action to create legislation to ban zombie knives in Northern Ireland.

Bedfordshire Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for knife crime, said: "Zombie knives are absolutely horrific weapons.

Forces are determined to reduce the harm caused by these and all other dangerous weapons.

There is no place for knife crime within society and this ban is further commitment to keeping communities safe."

As Home Secretary, Prime Minister Theresa May said the 'dangerous' weapons glamorised violence and 'have no place on our streets' before pushing forward the ban.

The ease in availability of zombie knives was first revealed by an Express & Star investigation in July last year, prompting West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson to launch a campaign to ban the blades. Our investigation found they could be easily purchased online.

Most sellers are willing to ship internationally with the disclaimer that the buyer is responsible for complying with any laws in the UK.

Mr Jamieson said: "Our streets will be safer following this change in the law.

"With names such as Head Splitter and Death Dagger, no sensible person wants to see zombie knives in circulation and now, after a year of hard work, we will finally see them banned once and for all.

"Strong and swift action here means the sale and importation of these weapons has been outlawed before they became a widespread problem. I am proud of this achievement and welcome the change to the law wholeheartedly."

During his campaign, the commissioner met with former Shadow Policing Minister Jack Dromey and ex-Home Office Minister and now Cabinet Minister Karen Bradley MP in Westminster, pointing out the dangers of zombie knives and their growing prevalence on the streets.

He also wrote to then-Home Secretary Theresa May and Amazon UK CEO Chris North, which resulted in security being tightened on the website. Questions were also tabled in Parliament by Dudley North MP Ian Austin in February 2016. Stefan Appleton, 18, was stabbed in the chest and leg with a 'Zombie Killer' machete in a London park and died in June last year. Seventeen-year-old Blaise Lewinson is now serving a minimum of nine years for manslaughter.

This year, there were 401 arrests and 2,111 weapons taken off the street as part of a national police campaign targeting habitual knife carriers, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives from identified retailers and use of surrender bins.

The Home Office will ensure frontline border officers, and Border Force will continue enforcing the law.