I have written to the Home Office demanding an explanation or a change in their scheme which has excluded Tower Hamlets police stations.
I was pleased to learn of the Home Office scheme to allow the surrender of ‘zombie-style’ knives and ‘zombie-style machetes’. The scheme is running 26 August – 23 September and is in preparation for the new legislation prohibiting the manufacture, supply, sale, possession and importation of ‘zombie-style knives’ and ‘zombie-style machetes’, which will come in to force on Tuesday, 24 September 2024.
However, I was very disappointed to learn that not all public and open police stations are part of the scheme. Furthermore, there are no Tower Hamlets police stations included in the scheme. Someone reporting to the Bethnal Green police station, for example, would be told to go to Stoke Newington or Stratford.
I am extremely aware of the high risk that, in turning people away, we may lose some of those who had been willing to surrender their blades.
Action taken
I wrote to the joint Tower Hamlets and Hackney borough command, who informed me that the decision about which police stations would be part of the scheme was made by the Home Office.
I then wrote the following letter to the Home Office. I will update this page when I receive a response:
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to request an explanation or change in the policy regarding The Home Office’s Zombie Style Knife Surrender & Compensation Scheme running 26 August – 23 September 2024.
In the message below from the MET police, I was surprised to learn that not all publicly open police stations are part of the scheme. I requested more information and our local commander informed me that this decision was made by the Home Office.
I’m writing to you about this because I am concerned that this policy may make the scheme less effective in getting these weapons off our streets.
I am disappointed that people in Tower Hamlets could attend a police station in good faith attempting to surrender their weapon, only to be turned away and told to travel to Stoke Newington or Stratford, both places outside the borough. There seems to be a high risk that, in turning people away, we may lose some of those who had been willing to surrender their blades.
A 17 year-old boy was recently stabbed to death in my ward, an event which left my community traumatised. I am therefore extremely supportive of this scheme. Knife violence is a scourge on our city and I would like any scheme like this to be as effective as possible. Please see my requests below, and I look forward to hearing from you.
I would like:
An explanation of the reasons for which not all open and public police stations in London are part of this surrender scheme.
To extend the scheme to all police stations which are open and accessible to the public.
Nathalie Bienfait, Green Party councillor for Bow West