Below, you can find the results of our research into zombie knives in the UK and the offences that they’re used for. You can find statistics for each area of the UK.
What Is A Zombie Knife?
A zombie knife is a bladed weapon that has been increasingly linked to violent crimes and gang use. Inspired by zombie films, they often have one smooth blade and one serrated edge.
Our Research Into Zombie Knives In The UK
Below, you can find details of our research campaign into the use of zombie knives on UK streets. You can also head here to learn more about our campaign into knife crime, as well as here for details of our research and statistics generally.
The Aim Of Our Research
New government legislation is set to come into force this September, 2024 which will see a complete prohibition on zombie knives. The blades have technically been banned since 2016, however, a ‘loophole’ in the law has meant the knives are still on UK streets.
Under current legislation, only knives that are “designed to look intimidating and threatening” are banned.
This year, new laws will see anyone caught in possession of a zombie knife subject to jail time.
Popular actor and rapper, Idris Elba launched a campaign focused on youth violence and began lobbying for zombie knives and machetes to be banned immediately.
In January 2024, Elba said the start date for the government’s ban is “far too long away” and called for additional support for community groups tackling knife crime.
How We Conducted Our Research
To gain a true insight into the current state of zombie knife crime in the UK, Personal Injury Claims UK set up an investigation to obtain crime figures from the last three years.
With the rise in youth knife crime, we also enquired about the number of under 18-year-olds who were involved in crimes involved zombie knives and machetes.
We send out Freedom of Information requests to every UK police force asking for the number of zombie knife crimes each year since 2021 as well as the number of those crimes involving ‘youths.’
The results so far, show a increase in such crimes year after year. See our findings as they stand below.
The Results Of Our Research
Northumbria
Crimes involving zombie knives and machetes are increasing year after year in Northumbria,
in 2021, 229 crimes were reported to Northumbria Police involving zombie knives and machetes. The figure rose the following year to 265.
Just last year, 2023, figures reached a peak with 306 crimes logged. So far this year, 35 zombie knife incidents have been reported in the county. If the trajectory continues, the figure is likely to soar again to more than 350 by the end of this year.
What’s more, the amount of these zombie knife crimes involving youths (under 18s) are too, rising year on year.
In 2021, 27 youths were involved in these crimes, rising to 38 the following year. 40 under 18s were reported to police last year and a further 6 in 2024 so far.
Greater Manchester
In 2021, there were 1,011 incidents of zombie knife crime, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP). This increased to 1,231 in 2022 and jumped again to 1,249 in 2023.
What’s more, the force confirmed that a staggering 1,935 young people (under 18) have been victims of the weapons in the last three years.
A total of 574 young people were recorded victims of zombie knife crime in 2021, this rose to 654 in 2022 and then again to 707 in 2023/24.
West Midlands
Zombie knife crimes have increased a staggering 185% across the county, with figures at their highest last year (2023).
This is despite police and government crackdowns on the weapons which appears to be having little success in slowing the crime rate.
In 2021, there were 99 incidents of zombie knife crime, according to West Midlands Police. This soared to 202 the following year and rose again to 282 crimes in 2023.
What’s more, the force confirmed that the number of young people (under 18) that have been victims of crimes involving zombie knives has tripled since 2021.
Nottinghamshire
Zombie knife crimes have increased by 40% across Nottinghamshire.
In 2021, there were 140 incidents of zombie knife crime, according to Nottinghamshire Police. This rose to 159 the following year and hiked again to 198 crimes in 2023.
The force confirmed that the number of young people (under 18) that have been involved, either as victims or as suspects, involving zombie knives has increased by 45% since 2021.
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