People told to hand in ninja swords

People are being offered the chance to surrender ninja swords at local police stations

People who own ninja swords are being told to hand them in before the end of July.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it was part of the national ninja sword surrender and compensation scheme, which will run from 1 to 31 July.

People are being offered the chance to surrender them at local police stations and in some cases they may be able to claim compensation.

Det Ch Insp Steve Fleetwood, force lead for knife crime, said: "We need to continue to work together to prevent and reduce knife crime and keep our communities safe."

The majority of ninja swords have a blade between 14 inches and 24 inches, with a straight cutting edge and pointed end.

Compensation can be claimed if a sword is handed in during the surrender period and a claim submitted at a designated police station.

To be eligible for compensation, a person must have been the lawful owner of the sword on or before 25 March 2025 and be able to provide proof such as an invoice or receipt.

Once the surrender period comes to an end, ninja swords will be prohibited.

People will still be able to surrender items to the police, but will not be able to claim compensation.

'Continue to educate'

Knife surrender bins are now permanently situated in local police stations across the region so that the public can surrender knives safely and discreetly at any time.

Mr Fleetwood said: "Knife crime is not a major issue in our region, however we take it very seriously and will continue to educate the public and aim to remove knife crime from the streets.

"Possession of banned weapons, even if just in a drawer or attic at home, can mean a prison sentence of more than four years."