Families devastated by knife crime say wider 'zombie' weapon ban is 'step in the right direction'
Government plans to ban more "zombie-style" knives and machetes and introduce tougher prison terms have been welcomed by campaigners but some say they don't go far enough.
There are plans to ban those with no 'practical' use and give police more powers to seize and destroy them, while the maximum sentence for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of these newly proscribed weapons will be two years.
A new offence will also be introduced for possessing bladed articles "with the intention to endanger life or cause fear of violence".
The Government said the measures, first proposed in April, will be legislated "when Parliament allows" following a public consultation.
The possession of so-called "zombie" knives, currently defined by the Government as a blade with "a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence", is already illegal.
Under the new measures, the Home Office said the definition will include any bladed weapon more than eight inches long with a plain-cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade or multiple sharp points like spikes.
Ministers hope the changes will close a loophole that allowed dangerous weapons to be sold without breaking the law because they did not have certain banned features.
Family and friends of knife crime victims in the region say the measures are a "step in the right direction" but more needs to be done to eradicate knife crime.
The heartbroken family of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda have called for tougher controls on knife sales after it emerged his teenage killers had bought vicious blades over the internet.
He was attacked in Wolverhampton last June with machetes by 17-year-olds Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, who were jailed for a total of 34 years for his murder.
Speaking after the Government's announcement yesterday, Ronan's mother Pooja Kanda said: "It's the right direction but we need more details. We haven't got the full information about what they are banning.
"I would like to know if this includes ninja swords.
