DOZENS of suspected zombie-style knives or machetes were handed in at police station front counters across Essex as part of a national surrender scheme.

Police forces across England and Wales, including Essex Police, participated in the Home Office-led amnesty, which ran from 26 August until 23 September.

Zombie-style knives and machetes are now outlawed by new legislation as of 24 September.

The law covers the manufacture, supply, sale, possession and importation of these weapons.

Ahead of the new law, previous owners of specified zombie knives and machetes were able to submit a claim for compensation while surrendering the weapons at police station front counters.

Fifteen locations, including Basildon Police station, saw more than 200 knives of many varieties presented at front counters for surrender.

To date, 15 have been confirmed by the Home Office to meet the criteria for their compensation scheme, with more than 70 still awaiting final confirmation.

All have been seized, taken out of circulation and will be destroyed.

In a single surrender, a couple who were self-confessed collectors handed in 70 bladed items, with at least 11 believed to fit the compensation scheme.

Throughout the period of the scheme, officers also proactively engaged with residents in high harm hotspots across the county.

These engagements took place in areas designated by the police's Operation Grip as hotspot patrolling zones – areas data analysis shows have a higher probability of a serious violent incident.

Officers went door-to-door explaining the surrender scheme and new legislation, before urging residents to surrender any potentially illegal knives.

Officers were out and about advising residents about new legislation and collecting knives.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Hughes, of Essex Police's Serious Violence Unit, said: "I've been really clear throughout this scheme that this is about targeting those knives which clearly have no logical purpose beyond their nefarious use by criminals.

"We've seen a solid uptake and understanding from the public and from retailers around the purpose of this scheme, which has resulted in more than 200 knives being brought into our front counters for examination and surrender.

"This was a chance, and I think it's right people were given that chance, to surrender these items without sanction, and for people to play their part in keeping Essex safe ahead of this new legislation.

"Each knife surrendered, each knife dropped into one of our bins, is a knife taken out of circulation and a knife that can't be used to harm or threaten another person. I can only ever see that as a positive.

"I welcome this strengthening of the law, which from this week will allow us to seize these frightening weapons no matter the circumstances – whether they are seized in public or even in private properties.

"This also toughens the law around the sale and manufacture of these weapons, and we've seen engagement throughout the surrender scheme either from people who collect these items or who sell them.

"The uptake on the surrender scheme has been really positive, but now our attention moves towards this new law and its enforcement.

"We will continue to crack down hard on anyone we find possessing these weapons, in any circumstance, and will also continue to work with our retailers around the sale of knives of all varieties.

"While the online space continues to be a challenge nationally, we will play our part in Essex in putting these new powers to use.

"If you've missed the scheme, and you still have an item you want to surrender, we have 15 knife bins in easily accessible locations across the county.

"I would urge you to come and drop it in to your nearest location. If you don't, you could face arrest and a criminal charge."