In July, 25-year-old Brit Sam Jacques had his home searched and was charged with possession of a knife—in his own home—and was fined the equivalent of about $900. The knife fit the criteria of a category called a "zombie-style knife" and was therefore illegal in the United Kingdom, even though there was no evidence of wrongdoing or evidence that Jacques had any intention to harm anyone.
Named for blades commonly seen in zombie films, zombie knives are legally defined in the U.K. as a weapon with "(i) a cutting edge; (ii) a serrated edge; and (iii) images or words (whether on the blade or handle) that suggest that it is to be used for the purpose of violence." They were originally designed for collectors and survivalists. Jaques told the court he used the knife for bushcraft, building shelters, and other outdoor activities, and that the serrated part was used for cutting wires.
In 2016, under Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, a new amendment to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 banned zombie knives after the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old. Headlines named the assaulter the "Zombie Killer." Such knives are now categorized as "offensive weapons," along with more than 20 other weapons, including knuckledusters, butterfly knives, and telescopic truncheons. "Any person who manufactures, sells or hires or offers for sale or hire, exposes or has in his possession for the purpose of sale or hire, or lends or gives to any other person," can face six months to two years in prison.
