Dozens of 'zombie' knives surrendered to police

Scores of knives have been surrounded by members of the public in Essex

Scores of suspected zombie-style knives and machetes have been handed into police stations across a county as part of a national surrender and compensation scheme.

People have been handing in large knives into several Essex Police stations across the county between 26 August to 23 September.

A new law came into force on Tuesday banning zombie knives, but anyone who surrendered one could become eligible to apply for £10 or more in compensation from the Home Office.

The force confirmed 15 knives had been identified as meeting the criteria for compensation by the Home Office, and more than 70 knives were still awaiting a verdict.

A spokesperson said: "In a single surrender, a couple who were self-confessed collectors handed in 70 bladed items, with at least 11 believed to fit the compensation scheme."

The knives that have been handed in are due to be destroyed.

There are also 15 long-standing knife drop-off bins across the county were members of the public can safely deposit bladed items, which are then collected by the police. They are not part of the compensation scheme.

In recent months, police have found machetes, zombie-style knives, swords and even axes among the contents of the bins.

The bins were also emptied this week and scores of knives were inside.

People have left bladed items in knife drop-off bins, which were collected by police

Det Ch Insp Ian Hughes said: "We will continue to crack down hard on anyone we find possessing these weapons, in any circumstance, and will also continue to work with our retailers around the sale of knives of all varieties."

He has also urged people to continue to hand in any knives that could meet the compensation scheme and avoid arrest or a criminal charge.

“Each knife surrendered, each knife dropped into one of our bins, is a knife taken out of circulation and a knife that can’t be used to harm or threaten another person. I can only ever see that as a positive," he added.