Machetes and zombies knives exchanged for money in Hatfield

The new government programme will enable blades to be surrendered at Hatfield Police Station in return for compensation between Monday, August 26, and September 23.

It precedes a new law coming into force on September 24, which will ban owning certain knives and see offenders potentially face four-year prison sentences. 

A machete seized in Borehamwood on May 14. (Image: Hertfordshire Police) It comes after an 'unsettling' serious assault in the town's Market Square on Thursday last week, which saw a man taken to hospital with stab wounds 

Each surrendered knife will be exchanged for £10 under the Home Office scheme, unless the owner can prove the value of more expensive items.

The public will need to fill in a compensation form to the government in order to apply for the money, although claims worth less than £30 in total will not be honoured. 

Detective Sergeant Dan Stoddart said: “The amnesty is a chance for anyone who is in possession of this type of weapon to surrender it legally and safely.

“Once the new legislation comes into force police will be able to seize any such weapons they find and prosecute the owner. 

"Possession of banned weapons, even if just in a drawer at home, can mean a prison sentence of more than four years. 

A machete seized by police in South Oxhey last December. (Image: Hertfordshire Police) “The criteria set out in the new law is quite specific – generally, any knife over eight inches in length and with one or more serrated edges could qualify, so if you own a knife which you think might be affected, please visit https://orlo.uk/AnOfD and read the details.”

Government guidance state that knives with a blade longer than eight inches, as well as either a serrated cutting edge, spikes, hole in the blade or multiple sharp points in the cutting edge will all be banned under the new law.