Thu Sep 12 01:03:06 UTC 2024: ## Knife Wholesaler Surrenders 35,000 “Zombie Blades” in Effort to Curb Violence
**Luton, England** – A knife wholesaler, Sporting Wholesale, has surrendered over 35,000 “zombie knives” and machetes to Bedfordshire Police as part of a government surrender scheme. The company will receive £10 compensation for each knife.
The knives, which were specifically designed for killing and maiming, were deemed to have no practical use other than as weapons, according to Supt Alex House, who leads on knife crime for Bedfordshire Police. The surrender comes ahead of a new, broader ban on knives with sharpened blades longer than 8 inches (20 cm), set to come into effect on 24 September.
Sporting Wholesale, which owns the knife brand Anglo Arms, previously admitted in 2021 that their products had gained notoriety among gangs. The company announced in June they would no longer sell knives, beyond their current stock.
This surrender follows a series of high-profile incidents where Anglo Arms knives were used in fatal attacks. These include the murder of Omar Khan in Luton, the manslaughter of 14-year-old Gordon Gault in Newcastle, and the fatal stabbings of Joshua Clark and Haidar Shah in Halifax.
Bedfordshire Police are working to address the black market for these weapons, which could be bolstered by the stricter ban. The force is also working with community groups to prevent knife crime by addressing the root causes of young people carrying knives.
While the new ban is seen as a step in the right direction, some critics argue it does not go far enough. The Labour government is considering further bans on weapons like ninja swords and making it harder to buy dangerous weapons online.
The zombie knife surrender scheme remains open until 23 September.
First Piper 