Suella Braverman is now the fifth Tory Home Secretary to promise a ban on zombie knives and machetes.
Botched Tory legislation means that seven years after they first promised to ban zombie knives and machetes the horrific weapons are still available to criminals.
The blades, used to carry out dozens of killings, are readily available – and if police find a zombie knife or machete in the home of a violent criminal they are powerless to act.
Victims’ families and campaigners spoke out after the Home Secretary made yet another promise to ban the blades, following similar promises by her predecessors Priti Patel, Sajid Javid, Amber Rudd and Theresa May.
More than 173 youths have been fatally stabbed since 2016, when the government first promised to ban hunting knives and machetes.
Analysis of murders in London in 2019/20 showed machetes and “outdoor/hunting/combat knives” were the most common weapons.
Under the new proposals, police will be able to seize such weapons, and criminals who buy or sell machetes and zombie knives could face up to two years in jail. Police will have more powers to seize and destroy the weapons, and criminals would face tougher sentences for their sale and possession.
But campaigner Yvonne Lawson, whose son Godwin, 17, was stabbed to death in Stamford Hill, North East London, in 2010, told the Mirror: “It’s no good saying it, how are they going to be achieving this strategy?
“Lots of Home Secretaries have said the same, this is not new. What I want to know is how it will be achieved?”
The Government has announced a seven-week consultation on the plans, but Labour have slammed ministers for not acting faster.
Shadow Policing Minister Sarah Jones yesterday told the Commons the proposals were “too little, too late”.
She said knife crime had risen by 70% since 2015 in the UK. She said: “A year-and-a-half ago I called on the Government to act on getting these knives off the streets entirely, but they have done nothing. Why the delay?”
Patrick Green, of The Ben Kinsella Trust, said: “Since 2016, five Home Secretaries have made promises to ban zombie knives and machetes. Yet, it remains incredibly easy to get hold of these weapons and increasingly difficult for the police to take them off our streets.
“We must act now, and this consultation, and the subsequent legislation must proceed without any undue delay.“
The Government plans to ban large knives that are “not purchased for a practical use” and “designed with the intention to threaten”.
It seeks to undo a loophole in a similar law change made in 2016, which was supposed to give police the power to seize zombie knives. They have serrated edges that shred flesh, and are adorned with violent graphics or text. To be classified as illegal they must feature “images or words that suggest it is to be used for the purpose of violence”.
Police chiefs complain that this has left them powerless to act, as manufacturers have adapted designs, and weapons are sold online without any threatening words and pictures.
Under current laws, machetes and large knives are illegal to carry in public places, but can be kept at home.
A Home Office consultation document admitted that police are currently unable to seize zombie knives and machetes even if they think they will be used in a serious crime. In one case, it says, a 44ins machete was found under a drug dealer’s bed in a raid, but officers had no powers to remove it.
This month, a judge urged jurors to write to their MPs about the “shocking” availability of dangerous weapons online. Judge Christine Laing KC spoke after Emadh Miah, 18, was found guilty of stabbing Ghulam Sadiq, also 18, to death with a 22ins zombie knife.
She said: “I advise you to write to ask your MPs why it is that weapons like the one you saw in this case can be bought from a website legitimately.
“These weapons are there for anybody to purchase and it is beyond me as to why that is.”
The family of 17-year-old Malcolm Mide-Madariola, who was killed with a 15ins zombie knife blade in 2019 in Clapham, South London, commented on the latest plans. The Malcolm World Foundation, which was set up by Malcolm’s father Olumide after his death, posted: “We earnestly await the details and final decision on the proposed government ban on the free-flowing menace called Zombie knife and machete – like the one used by Malcolm’s killers.”
Labour MP Marsha de Cordova said the Government must also act to undo cuts to youth services. She said: “Areas suffering from the largest cuts to spending on young people have the biggest increases in knife crime. Why won’t the Government commit to investing in more resources?”
Policing minister Chris Philp told MPs yesterday: “Knife crime causes misery and fear in our communities which is why, over many years, this Government has taken concerted action to tackle it.”
Knife Crime Victims Support founder Quinton Green, 45, who was stabbed seven times when he was 17 years old, said: “We 100% agree these types of weapons should be banned.
“People have these bladed instruments such as zombie and Rambo knives for status.
“They have no practical use, they look totally horrific, scary and intimidating.”
'Disgusting they are on sale'
A mum whose son was murdered by thugs armed with a rambo-style knife has slammed government delays in banning the horror weapons.
Tragic Adam Cusack, 21, was stabbed in an alleyway by teenage knifeman Jordan Subhan in July 2010 and left to die.
Subhuman, 18, and his accomplice Declan Moore, 17, were jailed for a total of 26 years for the murder in Erdington, West Mids.
In the years since the killing, successive Home Secretaries have vowed to clampdown on so-called rambo and zombie-style knives.
Suella Braverman repeated the pledge yesterday, announcing a consultation on plans to outlaw the weapons.
But the knives can still be easily purchased cheaply and legally online and shipped to UK homes without fear of arrest.
Adam’s mum Karen Cusack, 55, said it was “disgusting” that nothing has been done to prevent their sale.
She told the Mirror: “It will be 13 years this July since I lost Adam to a Rambo knife and nothing has changed.
“It’s disgusting that these horrible, horrible weapons are on sale and anyone can go online and buy them.
“What possible reason is there for having to buy one of these knives, let alone walk the streets with them.
“Butchers need knives to cut meat, people need knives to make their dinner,
but nobody needs a zombie knife.
“Anyone can set up an online account and buy these knives, why weren’t they banned years ago?
“I want the government to announce an immediate ban, not just talk about proposals or plans.”
Tragic Adam was chased into an alleyway by his killers before Subhan plunged the Rambo knife into his chest.
Karen says she will never get over his death and still thinks of her son, who would be 34, every day.
“His killers have ruined my life and theirs, but they will be released one day,” she said. “For me, my life is over.”
'Too many mums are losing their sons'
A grieving mum whose son was murdered after his first day of college by a gang armed with a “fearsome” knife is begging the Government to act urgently.
Kelly Brown, 47, is pleading with them to ban the huge machetes and Rambo-type knives.
“Please listen to us mums and act now. I feel like there’s too many mums losing too many sons,” she told The Mirror.
“When are they going to start listening to us mothers?”
She lost her son Rhamero West, 16, after he was chased by a ‘pack of wolves’. The gang had armed themselves with a huge knife in broad daylight.
The three killers were jailed for life for Rhamero’s murder which happened in Old Trafford in September 2021.
“These knives should be banned. Please Listen to us mothers and do it now,”
she said.
“Now is better than never but it should have been done a long time ago, too many kids have already died.
“The ripple effect is massive and devastating. It not only affected myself but my family, his friends and the community.
“It’s like throwing a stone in the water and seeing the ripple effect never end.”
About the huge knife the gang had when they chased her son, she said: “My stomach turns to see that image.
“It is triggering to see other images of these huge knives knowing it was one of those that took my son’s life. They are just cowards.”
“But I’m serving a life sentence - not them.
The amazing mum has been touring schools to try and get children to put the knives down and she has now raised money for 31 bleed safety cabinets to be placed all over Greater Manchester.
“It took 30 minutes for the ambulance to get to my Mero and there’s a possibility he could be here today if there was one of these cabinets to help stem the bleeding.”
'Delays cost lives of young'
A seven-year delay in new Tory laws on knife crime has cost countless lives, a bereaved mum has warned.
Tanya Brown, 42, lost her beloved son Connor, 18, in 2019 as a result of a senseless backstreet attack over £5 in change.
Killer Leighton Barrass, then 20, used a “Joker” knife, which had the words “Why so serious?” emblazoned on it.
Tanya and husband Simon, 53, joined other families who have lost their children to call for tougher action on knife crime.
She told the Mirror: “I would like to find out the reason for the delay in this law. What justification is there for these knives? Why are they still available? There is no reason in the world for them to still be sold.
“If they had been banned, who knows how many young lives could have been saved?
“We are not the only ones to go through this. So many parents have lost their sons and daughters.
“If the ‘Rambo’ and ‘Joker’ knives were not available, it would have made such a difference. I’m so angry about that.”
She added: “Now they are falling into the wrong hands - they are falling into children’s hands.
“And that means the victims are getting younger and youngsters are using these weapons to kill.
“The knife used to kill my son was a ‘Joker’ knife. I did not want to see it at all. It was too painful.
“I just remember the name, that will stay with me forever.
“Why would you carry a ‘Joker’ knife with that message? It beggars belief.
“Giving them names makes them fashionable.
“They are not, they are weapons and they will kill. I lost my son in a row over a £5 note. It was a petty argument.”
Tanya, who recently met Sir Keir Starmer to discuss new Labour legislation, is looking to build new youth facilities in her hometown of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear with money raised in her son’s name, including a donation from England star Jordan Henderson.
She said: “The impact of knife crime is absolutely devastating.We are losing so many young lives - all because of these trophy weapons.
“Young people need something to do, so many facilities have closed.”
