Idris Elba Calls For Ban On Zombie Knives
Actor and musician Idris Elba is spearheading a campaign, Don't Stop Your Future, which is calling on the government to urgently ban the sale of "zombie" knives and machetes. The Luther star criticises politicians for not giving the issue the attention it deserves, urging a fast-tracked implementation of the planned law change to curb the rising number of young lives lost to knife crimes.
Zombie knives, defined as weapons with "a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting they are used for violence," were added to the prohibited offensive weapons list in 2016. However, a loophole allowing online sales persists, according to the Labour party.
As part of his campaign, Elba organises a visual demonstration in London's Parliament Square, displaying clothes representing victims of knife crime. Alongside his advocacy, Elba releases a single titled "Knives Down," expressing frustration with the government's perceived inaction on knife crime.
Elba emphasises the need for increased funding for groups working with young people and a concerted effort to eradicate the underlying causes of youth violence, stressing the importance of ensuring young people feel safe in their communities.
The latest police figures reveal that 247 people lost their lives due to knife crime from July 2022 to June 2023.
The government, acknowledging the severity of knife crime, has pledged to implement further intervention measures. However, despite promises, the urgency required to address the issue is lacking, and people are questioning why the government is not prioritising the ban with the same urgency given to other bills.
