2024 Amendments to the Zombie Knife Legislation

From 24th September 2024, the law which governs the ownership of certain types of knives and machetes will be changing.

The upcoming changes to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 will soon see 'zombie-style' knives and certain types of machetes added to the list of prohibited offensive weapons. These changes are part of the Offensive Weapons (Amendment, Surrender and Compensation) Order 2024. The intended aim is to further reduce the availability of dangerous bladed articles.

How Does The New Law Impact Machetes at Heinnie Haynes?

You can be confident that anything available at Heinnie Haynes is compliant with UK law at the time of publication of this article. In addition, everything available today is compliant with all known upcoming UK law. We do not stock any Machete that will be considered illegal under the change being implemented from 24th September 2024.

Heinnie Haynes does not stock Zombie Knives.

What Exactly Are Zombie Style Knives & Machetes?

'Zombie-style' knives are already illegal, having already been proscribed in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. That defined a “zombie knife” as being a blade with: (i) a cutting edge; (ii) a serrated edge; and (iii) images or words (whether on the blade or handle) that suggest that it is to be used for the purpose of violence.

What Are The 2024 Amendments to The Zombie Knife Legislation?

The 2024 amendment goes further, to add knives which are defined by specific characteristics: they typically feature a plain cutting edge, a sharp pointed end, and a blade over eight inches in length. Additionally, to be banned these weapons must have one or more of the following characteristics; 

• A serrated cutting edge (other than a serrated cutting edge of up to 2 inches next to the handle); 
• More than one hole in the blade; 
• Spikes or more than two sharp points.

When Will The New Legislation Come into Effect?

The new legislation comes into effect from 24th September 2024. Once the new regulations come into effect, it will be illegal to possess, manufacture, import, or sell these items. However, there will be a grace period, for 28 days from 26th August 2024, during which current owners can surrender these weapons to the police. Compensation will be available from the Government for those who choose to do so.

Heinnie Haynes has always worked within the spirit and letter of UK law. Our customers can be assured that everything that we sell at heinnie.com is legal to own within the United Kingdom.

Find out more about UK knife law at this link.

The flowchart, below, is a useful means of identifying knives affected by the 2024 legislation. It's reproduced from this Home Office document.