South Wales Police Federation has welcomed moves to outlaw zombie knives and machetes and increase sentences for anyone caught carrying them.

The Home Office said more knives with no practical use are to be banned with police given more powers to seize and destroy them.

The maximum sentence for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of such weapons will be two years and a new offence of possessing bladed articles “with the intention to endanger life or cause fear of violence” will be introduced.

The Government said the measures will become law “when Parliament allows” following a public consultation.

Zombie knives and machetes are banned.

South Wales Police Federation vice chair Phil Walker said: “Too many lives have been blighted by knife crime. These lethal weapons have no place in society and the sooner they are removed from the streets the better.

“Arguably they should have been banned years ago but this latest step will hopefully reduce the number of dangerous knives in circulation in our region.

“As always, our members will expect the full support of the Government and the Force when they enforce this new legislation and would hope to see the courts use their new sentencing powers when dealing with offenders.”

Cutting edge

The possession of zombie knives - defined 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 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.

Policing minister Chris Philp said the newly-prohibited weapons “serve no other purpose but to inflate criminal egos and endanger lives” and there is “no reason” to own them.

He said: “That is why we are banning these knives and making sentencing more severe, so our communities can be reassured that this violent criminality will face the punishments they deserve, and lives will be saved.”

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