���˿���

A senior police officer has urged people in West Yorkshire to hand in zombie knives for cash.

The ���˿��� Office launched a surrender and compensation scheme on 26 August, in which people can hand in zombie knives to the police and be compensated by at least £30.

Owners of these weapons have until 23 September to hand them ahead of them being added to the list of prohibited offensive weapons.

The ���˿��� Office has warned that failing to surrender zombie-style knives or machetes could cost people up to two years behind bars.

Det Ch Supt Lee Berry, director of the West Yorkshire violence reduction partnership, said: "Addressing serious violence sits at the heart of our partnership-led approach and is a significant part of our mayor and deputy mayor's plans for a safer West Yorkshire for all.

"This national initiative will stop the sale and make it illegal to possess these horrific weapons that carry such devastating consequences."

He said it was part of the fight against serious violence and he would encourage anyone in possession of such a weapon to "make use of the amnesty".

'Epidemic'

In May this year, officers from West Yorkshire Police seized dangerous weapons from 25 addresses in Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield.

Calderdale Police also seized weapons including six zombie knives, two machetes and two hatchets in an operation in Halifax.

A machete was used as part of a fatal attack of a teenager in Leeds in August last year.

shows that in 2014, there were 571 knife and offensive weapon offences resulting in a caution or sentence in West Yorkshire Police's operating area.

That number increased to 999 offences in 2022, but dropped the following year.

Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: "It is absolutely crucial that members of the public come forward and safely hand in these weapons.

"We are offering people the chance to do the right thing – to help make our streets safer, prevent further loss of life and save so many futures.

"We cannot do this alone, political, policing and community leaders must work together to bring the knife crime epidemic to an end and offer a better future for our young people."

The standard compensation amount for each surrendered weapon will be £10, but people will need to surrender at least three items in order to be compensated.

For claims for individual items worth more £10, individuals will need to provide acceptable evidence of the value of the item, like a receipt.

No compensation will be payable in respect of a claim where the total is less than £30.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on ���˿��� Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.