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‘Zombie knives crackdown’ as Lancashire County Council wants to limit which shops sell knives

Posted on - 22nd October, 2024 - 12:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Chorley News, Crime, Fylde News, Politics, Preston News, Ribble Valley News, South Ribble News, Wyre News
Knives which were bought by children during a Trading Standards and police operation Pic: Lancashire County Council

New tougher laws came in to crackdown on so-called ‘zombie-knives’ as well as introducing a ‘responsible retailer scheme’ for knife sales.

Lancashire County Council has spoken out in support of the new legislation introduced during September which means it is now illegal to own, make, transport or sell zombie-style knives and machetes.

A zombie knife is more than eight inches in length and has a serrated edge, spikes or more than two sharp points.

Read more: Five Preston shops caught selling a knife to a 15-year-old

Lancashire’s trading standards service has carried out test purchases, using teenage volunteers, to see whether stores across Preston and Lancashire are abiding by laws around knife sales.

In May this year 77 shops across Lancashire were visited by test purchasers aged between 13 and 16.

24 attempts to buy a knife by those under-age were successful.

County councillor Michael Green with one of the knives purchased Pic: Lancashire County Council

Cabinet member for health and wellbeing, county councillor Michael Green, said: “Knife crime has had a devastating impact on too many people in Lancashire and we want to do all we can to prevent further tragedies in our communities.

“Those that pick up a knife and use it could tragically be taking a loved one away from their family for good.

“I welcome the legislation banning zombie-style knives and machetes, and the county council will continue to work with the police to do all it can to keep knives off our streets.

“I joined our Trading Standards team on their most recent test purchase operation and was appalled that a third of businesses sold a knife to underage teenagers.”

Any shop can currently sell knives but the county council says it will bring in a ‘responsible retailer scheme for those that sell them.’

The ultimate aim is to have a countywide scheme of responsible retailers and a zero-tolerance approach to the sale of knives to young people under the age of 18.

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