“ZOMBIE knives, machetes and swords have no place in the West Midlands” – those are the words of the West Midlands Police and Crime Comissioner.
Simon Foster has vowed to to do all he can to ‘prevent, tackle and reduce’ violent and knife crime across the region as government announced new measures to seize and destroy such knives.
The Home Office said the maximum sentence for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of these newly proscribed weapons will be two years.
The government said the measures, first proposed in April, will be legislated “when Parliament allows” following a public consultation.
Mr Foster said: “I am committed to constant and unremitting action to prevent, tackle and reduce violence and knife crime, protect people and save lives.
“So-called ‘zombie’ knives, machetes and swords have no place in the West Midlands. We must do all we can to prevent, tackle and reduce the availability of these dangerous weapons, whether online or otherwise.”
Although Mr Foster welcomes the measures preventing the availability of these dangerous weapons, whether online or otherwise he has also hit out.
He said: “It is the first duty of government to keep its people safe. The government has been in serious breach of that duty, as a consequence of its failure to prevent, tackle and reduce the availability of these dangerous weapons.
“However, I am concerned that the government is failing to be tough enough, in cracking down on the ruthless people who are responsible for the manufacture, importation, sale and supply of these dangerous weapons.
“It does not appear to me, that an increase in the maximum penalty from six months to two years, is a proper reflection of the seriousness of this criminality.
“The reckless cuts this government imposed on policing, including the loss of 2,221 police officers – that was 25% of our police officers in the West Midlands – has contributed to a rise in violence and knife crime.
“If the government is genuinely intent on preventing, tackling and reducing violence, including knife crime, then it should return our 1,000 missing police officers and provide fair funding for West Midlands Police, so as to ensure that our under-funded and overworked police officers and staff have the resources they need.”
Mr Foster added there needs to be investment in preventative public services, including youth services – and in the wider criminal justice system, so that perpetrators are held to account and victims are able to access the help and support that they need.
