Compensation offered in weapons amnesty

Owners of weapons including zombie knives and knuckledusters are being offered compensation to hand them in to police.

Items soon to be outlawed when the Offensive Weapons Act comes into force next year can be surrendered under a threemonth Government scheme.

It is already illegal to possess a knife or offensive weapon in public, but the new law makes it unlawful to possess certain rapid firing rifles, specific types of knives and other offensive weapons in private.

The list includes zombie knives, cyclone knives, knuckledusters, death star knives, flick knives, gravity knives, batons, disguised knives, push daggers and other offensive weapons.

Lawful owners can claim compensation for handing them in to police if the total value of the claim is more than £30.

A form available on the Government's website values a knuckleduster at £2, a zombie knife at £10 and a blowpipe at £14.

National Police Chiefs' Council lead on knife crime, deputy assistant commissioner Graham McNulty, said :" Tack ling knife crime and reducing violence is a top priority for policing and the surrender scheme will enable us to remove dangerous weapons off the streets.

"Every weapon removed is possibly a life saved and I urge people to please help make our streets safer."

The Offensive Weapons Act was introduced by the Government in response to a spike in serious violence.

It makes it a criminal offence to sell bladed products online without verifying the buyer is aged over 18.