Unprecedented Nineteen Ninja Swords Surrendered in Merseyside During Amnesty Scheme

Nineteen ninja swords were surrendered to police stations across Merseyside during the Home Office’s month-long amnesty scheme.

The campaign, which urged members of the public to hand in any ninja sword in their possession, ran throughout England and Wales in July.

At midnight on Friday 1 August, ownership of these bladed weapons became illegal. This means the possession, manufacture, importation, sale and supply of ninja swords are now prohibited.

Being found in possession of a ninja sword could lead to imprisonment for up to six months, increasing to two years under new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill.

In addition to the 19 ninja swords, 180 other types of weapon - knives, machetes and other swords - were handed in during the surrender.  

Enquiry Officer Supervisor Vicky O’Neill, whose team has been instrumental in processing the surrendered items, said: "We’ve seen a positive level of engagement from the public throughout the surrender, with many people choosing to hand in weapons safely and anonymously – exactly what this scheme is designed to encourage.

“My team has worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure every item is safely handled and accurately recorded. Every weapon handed in is one less that could be used cause harm, and we’re proud to contribute to making Merseyside safer.

Report concerns anonymously

If you’re concerned about someone carrying a knife or involved in crime, you can report it via:

• 999 if a crime is in progress

• 101 for non-emergencies

• Merseyside Police Contact Centre, @MerPolCC on X and Facebook

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously or visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless if you're a young person worried about speaking to police. Call 0800 555 111 – every report, no matter how small, helps keep your community safe.