Those who surrender knives to police in Hampshire could claim compensation in a new bid to crack down on violent crime. 

Hampshire Constabulary will be part of a surrender and compensation scheme for zombie-style knives and machetes. 

The initiative is being launched by the government on Monday and will see a one-month surrender period where owners can hand in weapons and get compensation. 

This will run until September 23 with the weapons becoming illegal to possess, sell, manufacture and transport as of September 24. 

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Lawful owners will be able to claim compensation in most cases if the total value of the items is more than £30.

Claims can be submitted using a form on the Government website.

Items can be surrendered at these locations:

  • Aldershot Police Station Wellington Avenue Aldershot GU11 1NZ
  • Andover Police Station South Street Andover SP10 2ED
  • NPIC Police Station Jays Close Viables Business Park Basingstoke RG22 4BS
  • EPIC Police Station Airport Service Road Portsmouth PO3 5GE
  • Portsmouth Central Police Station Winston Churchill Avenue Portsmouth PO1 2DG
  • Gosport Police Station Gosport Town Hall High Street Gosport PO12 1EB
  • Winchester Police Station Tower Street Winchester SO23 8ZD
  • Park Gate Police Station 60 / 64 Bridge Road Park Gate Southampton SO31 7HN
  • Havant Police Station Civil Centre Road Havant PO9 2AN
  • Waterlooville Police Station Swiss Road Waterlooville PO7 7FX
  • Fareham Police Station Quay Street Fareham PO16 0NA
  • Newport Police Station High Street Newport PO30 1SZ
  • WPIC Police Station Southern Road Southampton SO15 1AN
  • Portswood Police Station St Denys Road Southampton SO17 2GN
  • Lymington Police Office NFDC Offices Avenue Road Lymington SO41 9ZG

People surrendering must ensure items are safe to handle while travelling to the police station and while on police premises.

They must be contained in a manner that allows them to be transported without causing distress or alarm to other members of the public. 

Items must be wrapped up and placed in a sealed bag or box and they must not be carried openly at any time.

Once in the police station, the person must not take the item out until requested to do so by a police officer or member of police staff.

Chief Superintendent Claire Jenkins, Force strategic lead for serious violence, said: “Tackling knife crime requires all agencies and partners working together, approaching this from a number of different angles.

“Our commitment to disrupt and tackle serious violence through Operation Sceptre and ongoing work with the Violence Reduction Partnership has seen a reduction of nearly 8% for the number of knife crime offences in our Force area when compared to last year.

"Knife crime can affect anyone, not just people in gangs. Young people say they carry them because of peer pressure or for protection - but in fact, you are much more likely to become a victim of knife crime yourself.

"Situations involving weapons can quickly get out of control.  If you are found with a knife - you will be arrested and are very likely to be charged with a crime for a first-time offence.

"We must challenge the assumption that it’s normal to carry a knife. It isn’t. You are putting yourself, other people and your future at risk.

“This surrender is key to help deal with the accessibility of deadly weapons and we are doing all we can to reduce how readily and easily they can end up in the wrong hands.

“Many of these ‘zombie-style’ knives and machetes are clearly designed to intimidate and cause harm, rather than serve any practical purpose, so the ban will support us by significantly reducing their availability.

“I would urge anyone in possession of a knife soon to be become prohibited to do the right thing and surrender it. To be clear from the 24th September you will be liable to arrest and prosecution if found with such a weapon.

"If you don’t wish to take part in or are not eligible for the compensation scheme you can surrender any knives or weapons at a suitable knife bin which are readily available across the country.”