In the news: Local people urged to hand in zombie-style knives ahead of ban
The announcement follows an incident at Woolmer Green, Langdon, last week where a man was seriously assaulted and sustained a stab wound.
From Tuesday 24 September 2024, zombie-style knives and machetes will be outlawed by new legislation. People have until Monday 23 September to surrender these items to police stations to claim compensation.
On Thursday 19 September 2024, police officers will be proactively engaging with residents in Basildon to encourage them to surrender any potentially illegal knives in exchange for compensation ahead of the legislation change.
Other varieties of knives not specified under the new legislation can still be deposited in designated amnesty bins. In Basildon, a knife amnesty bin is located at Basildon Police Station, Great Oaks, encouraging residents to dispose of their knives safely and anonymously. Those disposing of a knife should ensure it is fully wrapped up and placed in a secure container before bringing it to the amnesty bin.
The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) consultation recently launched to seek residents' views on how safe they feel when out and about, and their experience of anti-social behaviour in the borough.
As part of the consultation, people are invited to drop a pin on an interactive map to let us know how safe or unsafe they feel at any location in the borough.
It's important we hear from as many residents as possible to ensure that our town centres, parks and estates are safe for everyone who would live, work and visit here. The consultation will run for a period of six weeks, closing on Monday 21 October 2024 - https://basildoncommunitysafety.commonplace.is/
Cllr Melissa McGeorge, Basildon Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement said: "I was horrified to hear of the serious assault that took place in our borough last week, leaving a man in hospital in serious condition with a stab wound. I would like to thank Essex Police for responding to the incident so quickly and for making the appropriate arrests. The team are working tirelessly to ensure our residents can feel safe wherever they are in our borough.
"I urge those who are in possession of a knife to hand it in at the knife amnesty bin. We need all weapons off of our streets to stop horrific incidents like this happening in our neighbourhoods."
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Hughes, Essex Police Serious Violence Unit, said: "We welcome this new legislation which will supplement and enhance our ongoing work to tackle knife crime in Essex.
"These weapons have always been illegal to possess in a public place, but this tightening and strengthening of the legislation will give us more powers to ensure these dangerous items are not sold, kept or used under any circumstances.
"We have always been very clear that the carrying of a knife can only lead to disaster and misery.
"Even if you think you're protecting yourself by carrying one of these weapons, you're far more likely to be attacked or stabbed yourself - or else find yourself facing a serious criminal charge.
"There's no good reason, no sensible purpose and absolutely no justification for arming yourself with a knife - particularly of the variety covered by this new legislation.
We're continuing to utilise targeted operations, seizing weapons from offenders and putting them before the courts.
"We're also working more closely than ever with partners in education and health, as the figures are telling us almost half of all knife crime suspects are aged between 10 and 19 in Essex.
"We will continue to address the core issues and root causes behind knife crime, as when knife-enabled offending does occur, the consequences are so often disastrous.
Although such incidents remain rare, we know and recognise the understandable public concern they cause."
Ends
Published 17 September 2024