“No place for knives on Essex streets”

“There is no place for knives – of any description on our streets” Those are the strong words of Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst as a national surrender scheme on ‘ninja style’ swords is set to begin.

From 1 July to 31 July a Home Office lead national surrender scheme will be in place, encouraging members of the public who may be in possession of ninja style knives or swords, to hand them in ahead of a change in law which will see it illegal to own these types of weapons.

The amnesty follows the success of the zombie knife and machete surrender scheme held in summer 2024 which saw more than 200 knives handed in at police station front counters across Essex, and many more deposited in the county’s knife bins.

Roger Hirst, Essex PFCC and Chair of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership said: “Knives have no place on our country’s street, and here in Essex we are making great strides in reducing knife crime across the county.

“We are bucking the national trend and knife crime is falling. Since our Violence and Vulnerability Unit was established in 2019, over £9 million of investment has been brought into the county and during this time – with a concerted effort on prevention, early intervention and working with Essex Police on enforcement – we have seen a 24% reduction in Knife Crime, with hospitals reporting over 50% reduction in knife harm incidents.

“Providing the right support at the right time is critical to ending knife violence within our communities, and means less children, young people and the vulnerable preyed on.  We will continue to drive positive change in our county as we know one knife crime is one too many”

Essex VVU, as part of its work, have resources on knife harm to support parents and carers speak to their young people about knife crime, more information can be found at www.essexvvu.co.uk/knives

Individuals in possession of a ninja style knife can hand it in either at an Essex Police station, or deposit it safely in one of the county’s knife bins. A list of the locations of knife bins is available here. In some cases compensation may be offered if the knife is handed in during the amnesty. More information can be found at Essex Police