Banned they may be, but zombie knife usage triples
FIVE CRIMES A WEEK WITH WEAPON
THE use of so-called zombie knives has skyrocketed across the West Midlands in the last three years, as more teenagers fell victim to brutal attacks.
There are now an average of five zombie knife crimes a week.
The gruesome blades have increasingly become a weapon of choice for settling gang feuds and other deadly disputes that explode into shocking violence, tearing families apart in the process.
New figures reveal how the use of zombie knives in the region has almost tripled in the space of three years.
Data released by West Midlands Police under freedom of information laws showed there were 282 zombie knife crimes recorded last year – an average of more than five a week.
That was up from 202 in 2022 and 99 in 2021. The figures, obtained by Personal Injury Claims UK, illustrate a clear rise in the use of these deadly weapons, despite police and government crackdowns.
Zombie knives were banned in 2016, while new laws are set to outlaw dangerous machetes and knives with zombie-like blades. It will make it unlawful to own, distribute, produce or transport the weapons. Maximum sentences will also be increased.
Actor Idris Elba recently launched a campaign to ban these weapons immediately, stating he was not satisfied with how long changes were taking, comparing it to the speed with which XL bully dogs were banned.
Last month, Labour’s West Midlands police and crime commissioner, Simon Foster, accused the government of not going far enough on zombie knives.
“I’m not really convinced that the government is being tough enough in connection with zombie knives,” Mr Foster said.
“I don’t think, personally, that remotely reflects the seriousness of that level of criminality.
“I think you should be looking at far more severe sentences for those people responsible for manufacturing, importing, selling and supplying zombie knives, which have no other practical purpose other than to cause intimidation and potential death and serious injury.”