Close legal loophole on 'zombie' weapons

Anyone caught carrying a 'zombie' branded serrated machete, throwing knives or swords faces prison – but there is nothing to stop them being bought online and delivered to someone's front door.

It is illegal to carry a knife in public without good reason unless it is a knife with a folding blade three inches long or less, such as a Swiss Army knife. The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and a fine of £5,000.

But 'zombie hunter' and 'zombie killer' machetes and throwing knives, some sold with special scabbards to carry them and conceal them in, are entirely legal to buy.

James Morris, Conservative MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, campaigned for tougher sentencing after the death of 16-year-old Christina Edkins on a bus to Leasowes High School in Halesowen in 2013.

The Express & Star found around 1,600 machetes, knives, throwing axes and more weapons by simply typing the word 'zombie' into the American version of the auction website ebay.

Many sellers described their weapons in joking terms about preparing for a zombie apocalypse.

People could be forgiven for thinking they were little more than 'cosplay' items – accessories for people wearing fancy dress or attending sci-fi and fantasy conventions.

But anyone who carries any one of these items around on the streets of the UK faces a £5,000 fine and four years in prison if they are caught. Worryingly, however, there is nothing to stop anyone buying a razor sharp, serrated machete that is advertised for its ability to inflict deadly wounds and having it delivered to their home.

One item found by the Express & Star was the Zombie Z Hunter Machete Stainless Apocalypse Sword, in biohazard slayer green. It was available for $22.64 (£14.49). It is 23.75in-long and the description given is that it is a 'slayer sword machete, neon green cord wrapped handle with flared butt end for grip retention and lanyard, black baked on matte finish, sawtooth section on cutting edge, slightly sharpened serrated top edge, stainless steel, nylon sheath with Z-Hunter Bio Hazard logo with adjustable shoulder strap sling'.

Another was a Zombie Killer 1045 High Carbon Steel Full Tang Katana Sword Green Wrap BioHazard, for $125.00 (£79.99). It was described by explaining that people did not have to 'simply put it on display' and that it came with a shoulder strap: "This battle ready full tang Zombie Killer Katana features a beautiful black finish and is constructed from heat tempered 1045 high carbon steel.

"The hardwood saya (scabbard) is wrapped in leather with a leather shoulder strap, Zombie Killer Green nylon wrap decorates the saya between the fittings for the shoulder strap. While the sword is battle ready and made for Zombie Killing action, a free decorative sword stand is included if one wants to simply put it on display."

He said today: "Knife crime is a serious issue for many people, and like me I'm sure they also have real concerns about the way such a lethal weapon can be so easily obtained and brought into the UK.

"Last year I campaigned for tougher sentencing on knife crime – but for this law to be successful we need to crackdown on the way knives get onto our streets.

"I will be calling on the Government to urgently review the use of online shopping for import of these very dangerous knives."

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson called for an international effort to stop the import and sale of 'disgusting' weapons.

He said: " It is shocking that these weapons can be purchased and imported at such a low cost and clearly more needs to be done at a national and international level to stop the sale and import of these deadly weapons. Knives like these have no practical application whatsoever. They are weapons pure and simple. Recorded knife crime is less than half of what it was 10 years ago, but there is still much to do to get knives of all types off our streets.."

A machete was wielded by 32-year old Horrett Irving Campbell during his attack on pupils and staff at St Luke's Infants' School in Wolverhampton in 1996. He was a schizophrenic who believed the children were talking about him and thought the attack would help him get rid of a ghost.

The zombie blades are advertised by joking they are a solution for people who find that 're-animated ghouls are getting you down' and they are 'looking for some effective zombie repellant',

But British companies selling 'zombie' branded blades say they carry out rigid checks. Hampshire-based Master of Arms says: "By placing an order for a knife, crossbow or slingshot on this website you are giving permission for an identity check to be performed to confirm you are over 18."

"If we are unable to verify your age we will cancel your order."

And Northampton-based Hunters Knives and Swords spokesman Paul Smith said: "Hunters Knives have a large customer base which includes collectors, adventurers, hunters, trade professionals, military personnel and bushcrafters. We sell our products to theatre groups, television companies, expedition parties and corporations who require bladed implements for staff use and props.

"Having recently used a machete to tame the pampas grass in my own garden I would suggest that individuals who argue that machetes are intended to threaten or kill couldn't be further from the truth."