Importer gives up 35,000 blades under new scheme

A knife wholesaler will receive £350,000 in compensation after it surrendered thousands of zombie blades under the Government’s surrender scheme. 

Sporting Wholesale imported knives in bulk and owned knife brand Anglo Arms but, under new laws coming into effect this week, it is now illegal to own certain blades longer than 8in (20cm). The Luton-based business will receive £10 for each of the 35,000 knives surrendered, and the blades will be shredded and recycled by a specialist company. 

Sporting Wholesale declined to comment but, earlier this year, said it had reduced the Anglo Arms range to “cover practical and traditional knives only”. In June, the business confirmed it would no longer sell knives beyond its current stock. The surrendered items were returned before the 23 September deadline. 

The new ban — which was designed by the previous Conservative government — is an expansion of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and is not designed to cover conventional machetes that are widely used in shooting and conservation. For more information on the new law visit basc.org.uk