Commissioner calls on Amazon and Home Secretary to stop sale of 'zombie knives'

The Commissioner has urged Amazon to take the first step and remove the items from sale in the UK.

The brutal blades, with names such as ‘Skinner’, ‘Chopper’ and ‘Head Splitter’, are available online for as little as £8.

Despite being touted as collectors’ items or having loose links to films and TV shows, they are being increasingly used by criminal gangs as status symbols.

On Amazon, the UK’s largest online retailer, knives currently range in price from £115 right down to just £19.99.

Examples include:

Mr Jamieson wants the sale of such weapons banned in order to protect the public.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “These so-called zombie knives have no practical usage whatsoever and are an increasing danger on our streets.

“I have therefore written to Chris North, Amazon’s CEO, asking for him to remove them from his website as soon as possible in the name of public protection. I am also worried at just how easy it is to buy these weapons online: I am not aware of any robust safety and security measures in place to stop them falling into the hands of children.

“I have also written to Home Secretary, Theresa May. The Home Office is already considering banning the sale of zombie knives, something I called for last summer, and I want to see this enforced as soon as possible.

“These weapons have no place in our society and I want to see them eradicated once and for all.”

The letters to the Amazon CEO and Theresa May are below: 

Dear Christopher

The sale of so-called ‘Zombie Killer’ knives is an unsettling practice.

These brutal blades come with serrated edges, names such as ‘Zombie Skinner’ and ‘Head Splitter’ and have no practical usage whatsoever. They are being increasingly used by criminal gangs as status symbols.

Unfortunately, these knives are too easily available on your website: with several different weapons for sale, prices as low as £19.99 and no checks conducted as to the buyer’s age.

I am therefore asking that you remove these items from your site immediately in order to protect the public.

I accept that you are not the only online retailer selling these weapons but you are the largest – and where Amazon leads, others follow.

I am calling for a total ban on the sale of these blades and would welcome it if you removed them from Amazon.co.uk. My additional concern is that I am not aware of any robust safety and security measures in place to ensure they do not fall into the wrong hands, especially children.

Here in the West Midlands, I have already supported the introduction of 13 knife surrender bins and am encouraging anyone in possession of a ‘zombie knife’ to make use of the facilities and hand it in.

I look forward to hearing from you and would like to discuss this matter at the earliest possible opportunity at a venue that is convenient.

Yours sincerely,

David Jamieson

Dear Theresa,

The sale of so-called ‘Zombie Killer’ knives is a shocking and disturbing practice.

These are brutal blades that can be up to 2ft in length, include several serrated edges and have no practical usage whatsoever. They can easily be ordered online for as little as £8.

What worries me most is that, due to their bold colours, gratuitous titles such as ‘Head Splitter’ and ‘Death Dagger’ and links to popular films and TV shows, they appear to be aimed at younger people. I know that police forces across the country have already reported these weapons are being increasingly used as status symbols in criminal gangs.

I am aware that the Home Office is looking into a ban on the sale of such weapons, something I first called for last year, and I would urge that this is brought in as soon as possible.

In a bid to tackle the issue here in the West Midlands, I have called on anyone who may be in possession of a ‘Zombie Killer’ to drop it into one of our 13 knife surrender bins across the region.

I am now asking you, as Home Secretary, to do everything in your power to enforce a total ban on the sale of such knives and ensure it is brought in as swiftly as possible.

These weapons have no place in our society and I want to see them eradicated once and for all.

I look forward to your response and I am sure you will share my wish.

Yours sincerely,

David Jamieson