Charity boss welcomes zombie knife ban

The zombie-style knife ban is set to come into effect on 24 September

A charity boss has welcomed the forthcoming ban on zombie knives – but said more must be done to tackle knife crime’s “root causes”.

Rob Deeks, the chief executive of Slough-based Together As One, said a colleague found one of the weapons hidden in a hedge.

From 24 September, the weapons will be banned under legislation passed by the Conservatives while they were still in power.

However, people in England and Wales have from 26 August to 23 September to surrender them in police stations and claim compensation.

Mr Deeks said a zombie knife he previously recovered was so sharp that on being placed in a bag, it “shot through the bottom of it”.

“I think what is really important is the new legislation around the sale of [zombie knives] that is being implemented. A lot the time when we talk about knife violence, we’ve got to address the root causes and they’re much more important and probably more effective than trying to do amnesties,” he said.

“But when it comes to tightening the legislation around blades, it can only be a good thing because they are marketed towards young people and are horrendously dangerous weapons.”

Together As One is a "youth-led" charity, which seeks to unite communities through training, youth work and creative projects.

“I don’t think anyone needs to protect themselves with a zombie knife. If anyone has a knife like that, it’s purely to intimidate and threaten other people,” Mr Deeks told BBC Radio Berkshire.

“I would encourage any young person [with zombie knives] to really evaluate what they are doing with their life.”

Temur Qureshi, who was working with Mr Deeks’ charity, was stabbed to death in Slough in September 2023.

Jack Patterson, 18, admitted Mr Qureshi's manslaughter and was jailed for nine years in May.

“Anyone who knew Temur knew he was just a lovely young person with the whole of his life in front of him,” Mr Deeks said.

“[Mr Qureshi] had a two-year-old daughter and that little girl’s never going to get to see a father, never going to get to meet him properly. That is what knife crime has taken away.”