August 18th 2024.
Attention all individuals with ‘zombie-style’ knives and machetes! A new law is being implemented to ban these lethal weapons and the deadline to surrender them is quickly approaching. The government is urging everyone to take advantage of the national surrender scheme, which allows you to safely deposit your blades at any police station in England and Wales for a whole month. As a bonus, you will receive compensation for turning in your weapon of choice.
Mark your calendars for August 26th, when the surrender scheme will officially begin. You have until September 23rd to hand over your knives, as the new law will go into effect the very next day. Possession of these dangerous weapons will result in serious consequences, including prison time. This is all part of a bigger effort to reduce knife crime and make our streets safer.
The inspiration behind this legislation, known as Ronan’s Law, comes from the tragic death of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda. He was fatally stabbed by another teenager who had purchased a ninja sword online without any proper verification. This is not an isolated incident - similar weapons were used in the deaths of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and 19-year-old Shawn Seesahai. It's clear that action must be taken to prevent these tragedies from happening again.
The government's efforts to ban zombie-style knives began last year and were approved by parliament in April. However, the process faced challenges in the House of Lords as they struggled to define the blades in a way that would not hinder the sale of necessary equipment but also not allow suppliers to bypass the law. The Home Office has provided guidance on what types of knives are included in the ban, so there is no confusion.
Policing Minister Diana Johnson has emphasized that there is no legitimate reason for anyone to possess these weapons. She also revealed that this is just the first step in their plan to reduce knife crime by 50% in the next ten years. The next step will be to make ninja swords illegal as well. Johnson urges the public to take advantage of this opportunity to safely dispose of their blades and make our communities safer.
If you choose to participate in the surrender scheme, you will receive standard compensation of £10. However, if you can provide evidence of how much you paid for the weapon, such as a receipt, you may receive more. The Home Office website has a full list of participating police stations, so be sure to check it out. Let's work together to make a positive change and reduce knife crime in our society.
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