Zombie knives 'could be status symbols' after official ban in England and Wales

"Zombie killer knives" were inspired by horror films and computer games and designed to create maximum damage.

But from Thursday they'll be illegal to sell or import them after an increasing number have been found in gangs.

The knives, described as "horrendous weapons" by the Home Office have blades, serrated edges and logos promoting violence.

But Newsbeat's been told the ban could make them more of an "exclusive" status symbol to some people.

In April, a 17-year-old was convicted of using a zombie knife to murder teenager Stephen Appleton in north London.

In south London, where knife crime remains an ongoing problem, many people believe a ban will do nothing help.

"I think if anything it'll increase knife crime," a musician called Laynx tells us.

"It's exclusive now because it's banned. Whoever's got these can sell them now and make a killing."

His friend Gleams adds: "In terms of the zombie knives, I don't really see them [on the street] but I know people do carry knives in general.

"The way that it's all sharp at the end and bends round, that's crazy. That knife is specifically designed for murder.

"It's a fashion statement knife."

Some zombie killer knives can be up to two feet (60cm) long

"We've seen the knives on gang websites," says Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock from the National Police Chiefs Council.

People are uploading videos of themselves displaying the knives as a 'look what we've got' type of weapon.

"People might still want to get hold of them but the reality is they will now be very difficult to get hold of in Britain."

The government defines a zombie knife as a blade with a cutting edge, a serrated edge and "images or words that suggest it is to be used for the purpose of violence".

The ban only applies in England and Wales.

The Northern Ireland Assembly and Scottish Government both say they are hoping to introduce similar legislation soon.

"They have been designed to prevent what has been described as a zombie apocalypse. Companies market them for the 'end of civilisation' market," said Chief Constable Hitchcock.

"But in reality these are just vicious, lethal, horrible weapons and we're glad to see them banned."

A selection a zombie knives discovered by police in the West Midlands recently

There were 27,487 recorded cases of knife crime in the UK last year - up 15% on the previous year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

However, the government points out that overall the figure has fallen around 11% in the last decade.

It's already illegal to carry a large knife in public "without a good reason" or sell such a blade to anyone under 18.

Around a dozen other types of knife are banned already, including flick knives, modern samurai swords and gravity knives.

But what impact will banning "zombie killer knives" have on the streets?

Zombie killer knives designed "for the purpose of violence"

Home Office minister Sarah Newton MP says although not a huge number of zombie knives have been recovered by police, they have noticed an increase.

"Once we realised these sorts of weapons were so easily accessible to young people online we wanted to take every step to make sure they were banned," she says.

"This legislation will stop people being able to import them, sell them and has strong penalties for people possessing them.

"It's a horrendous looking weapon, designed to intimidate."

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