PCC calls on owners of zombie-style knives and machetes to hand them in

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has joined Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in calling for all zombie-style knives and machetes to be surrendered across the two counties.

Today (26 August) is the start of a national month-long campaign launched by the government for owners to hand in these weapons safely and legally to police stations up and down the country. The surrender and compensation scheme runs until 23 September. It will then be illegal to possess, sell, manufacture and transport them from 24 September.

PCC Donna Jones said: “This surrender scheme will take more deadly weapons off the streets in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It is vital that members of the public come forward to prevent further devastating and life-changing consequences to so many families.

“There is no place for these kinds of weapons in our neighbourhoods. We must all work together to drive down knife crime and give people more positive futures and better life choices.”

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has reported that knife crime offences for the two counties have gone down by nearly 8% compared to last year.

New figures from the Ministry of Justice in the year to March reveal the national knife crime landscape with the rate of first-time offenders in England and Wales at a record low and the overall number of knife and offensive weapon offences also on the decline.

The Police and Crime Commissioner has continued her commitment to reducing serious violence and knife crime locally. Her Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and her Violent Crime Taskforce (VCT) both focus on tackling serious violence and addressing its root causes with police, education, health, local authorities and charities.

PCC Donna Jones added: “This nationwide surrender is an important step towards eradicating dangerous weapons that have no place in our society. I am urging anyone who is in possession of these zombie-style knives and machetes to surrender them safely from today.”

Designated Police Stations

Items can be surrendered and compensation claimed at these designated front offices across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight:

• Aldershot Police Station Wellington Avenue Aldershot GU11 1NZ
• Andover Police Station South Street Andover SP10 2ED
• NPIC Police Station Jays Close Viables Business Park Basingstoke RG22 4BS
• EPIC Police Station Airport Service Road Portsmouth PO3 5GE
• Portsmouth Central Police Station Winston Churchill Avenue Portsmouth PO1 2DG
• Gosport Police Station Gosport Town Hall High Street Gosport PO12 1EB
• Winchester Police Station Tower Street Winchester SO23 8ZD
• Park Gate Police Station 60 / 64 Bridge Road Park Gate Southampton SO31 7HN
• Havant Police Station Civil Centre Road Havant PO9 2AN
• Waterlooville Police Station Swiss Road Waterlooville PO7 7FX
• Fareham Police Station Quay Street Fareham PO16 0NA
• Newport Police Station High Street Newport PO30 1SZ
• WPIC Police Station Southern Road Southampton SO15 1AN
• Portswood Police Station St Denys Road Southampton SO17 2GN
• Lymington Police Office NFDC Offices Avenue Road Lymington SO41 9ZG

There is also further advice on how to surrender these items safely and how to claim compensation.