The Home Office has undertaken three knife and weapons surrender schemes since 2024: the Zombie-Style Knives and Machetes Surrender and Compensation Scheme from 25 August to 23 September 2024; the Ninja Sword Surrender and Compensation Scheme and extended surrender scheme in July 2025; and most recently, the Knife and Weapons Surrender Scheme from 3 August to 31 August 2026. The schemes were supported by 37 Home Office funded surrender bins in London, West Midlands. Greater Manchester, and in 2026, a further 8 bins in South and West Yorkshire.

The Home Office does not keep data on the number of knives and weapons surrendered in individual police force areas including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire. However, the total number of weapons surrendered through the surrender schemes in 2024 and 2025 is 47,795 and 7,512 respectively. The figures for the August 2026 Knife and Weapons Surrender Scheme will be published in due course.

The Government shares the concern about the use of catapults against wildlife, people or property. We are aware of catapults being an issue in some areas of the country, and there are a range of laws in place that can be used against individuals who use catapults in this way.

Where a catapult is used to harm animals, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 provide the police with powers to deal with deliberate attempts to kill, injure or inflict harm on wildlife. It is also an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause an animal any unnecessary suffering.

Under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, if a person carries an offensive weapon in a public place or threatens a person with an offensive weapon, they may face up to four years in prison. The definition of an ‘offensive weapon’ may include a catapult depending on the circumstances of the case.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 also provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour including that involving catapults. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices (CPWs and CPNs), and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which can be used to prevent behaviour that is having, or likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. Through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, we have increased the upper limit for a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for breaches of a PSPO or a CPN from £100 to £500 and this will come into force from 26 October 2026.

A roundtable was held in June this year with Members of Parliament and stakeholders to discuss the misuse of catapults. The Government is now working with the police to ensure that existing legislation is used consistently and effectively. We have noted the proposals for new restrictions, including age restrictions on the sale of catapults, and we are actively considering what more might be done around enforcement.

The Government shares the concern about the use of catapults against wildlife, people or property. We are aware of catapults being an issue in some areas of the country, and there are a range of laws in place that can be used against individuals who use catapults in this way.

Where a catapult is used to harm animals, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 provide the police with powers to deal with deliberate attempts to kill, injure or inflict harm on wildlife. It is also an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause an animal any unnecessary suffering.

Under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, if a person carries an offensive weapon in a public place or threatens a person with an offensive weapon, they may face up to four years in prison. The definition of an ‘offensive weapon’ may include a catapult depending on the circumstances of the case.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 also provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour including that involving catapults. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices (CPWs and CPNs), and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which can be used to prevent behaviour that is having, or likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. Through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, we have increased the upper limit for a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for breaches of a PSPO or a CPN from £100 to £500 and this will come into force from 26 October 2026.

A roundtable was held in June this year with Members of Parliament and stakeholders to discuss the misuse of catapults. The Government is now working with the police to ensure that existing legislation is used consistently and effectively. We have noted the proposals for new restrictions, including age restrictions on the sale of catapults, and we are actively considering what more might be done around enforcement.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of notifiable offences (including wildlife crimes) and anti-social behaviour incidents, recorded by the police in England and Wales.

This information is published on a quarterly basis by the ONS, and can be accessed here:

Crime in England and Wales: Appendix tables - Office for National Statistics

However, it is not possible to separately identify those incidents in which a catapult or slingshot was used.

The Government shares the concern about the use of catapults against wildlife, people or property. We are aware of catapults being an issue in some areas, and there are a range of laws in place that can be used against individuals who use these devices in this way.

Where a catapult is used to harm animals, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 provide the police with powers to deal with deliberate attempts to kill, injure or inflict harm on wildlife. It is also an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause an animal any unnecessary suffering.

Under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, if a person carries an offensive weapon in a public place or threatens a person with an offensive weapon, they may face up to four years in prison. The definition of an ‘offensive weapon’ may include a catapult depending on the circumstances of the case.

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 also provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies with tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour including that involving catapults. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices (CPWs and CPNs), and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which can be used to prevent behaviour that is having, or likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality. Through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, we have increased the upper limit for a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for breaches of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) or a Community Protection Notice (CPN) from £100 to £500 and this will come into force from 26 October 2026.

A roundtable was held in June to discuss the use of catapults and a copy of a draft Bill from Naturewatch Foundation was shared with the Home Office and has been carefully considered. We are working with the police to ensure that legislation is used consistently and effectively, and considering what other actions may be appropriate.

This Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously and is aware of the misuse of catapults against wild animals and domestic pets which is causing great concern to some local communities.

Sufficient laws are already in place to protect animals against the targeted use of catapults. However, the 2025 Animal Welfare Strategy commits the Government to reviewing and looking to strengthen penalties for cruelty to wildlife so they are consistent with higher levels of sentencing available for offences against pets and livestock. Incidents involving catapults that cause unnecessary suffering to wild animals would be in scope of any strengthened penalties.

This Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously and is aware of the misuse of catapults against wild animals and domestic pets which is causing great concern to some local communities.

Sufficient laws are already in place to protect animals against the targeted use of catapults. However, the 2025 Animal Welfare Strategy commits the Government to reviewing and looking to strengthen penalties for cruelty to wildlife so they are consistent with higher levels of sentencing available for offences against pets and livestock. Incidents involving catapults that cause unnecessary suffering to wild animals would be in scope of any strengthened penalties.

This Government does not collect data on attacks on domestic animals by specific weapon type. The department has no plans to introduce separate data collection for attacks involving air weapons, catapults or other weapons.

The Government recognises that, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), the premises of a diplomatic mission are inviolable. The UK complies with its international obligations under the VCDR. Where appropriate, law enforcement authorities may seek a waiver of inviolability from the sending State through established diplomatic channels.

The Government recognises that, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), diplomatic bags and certain diplomatic consignments are afforded specific immunities. The UK complies with its international obligations under the VCDR, and there are long-established rules concerning the use of diplomatic consignments which we expect all states to adhere to. Relevant authorities continually assess and manage the risks of misuse of diplomatic privileges, including for the unlawful importation of prohibited weapons.

Zombie-Style knives and machetes were banned from sale and possession on 24 September 2024. Under new provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026, anyone caught selling or possessing such a weapon, where a legal defence does not apply, may face up to 2 years imprisonment, a fine, or both. The provisions in the 2026 Act will be brought into force shortly.

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 will also provide the police with the power to issue content removal notices to require social media companies, online marketplaces, and search services to remove unlawful knife and offensive weapons content.  Failure to remove this content could result in both the company and a designated senior executive facing significant penalties. This meets the Government’s manifesto commitment to hold the senior executives of online companies accountable for flouting the rules around online knife sales.

The Government is also providing £2m funding in 2026/07 to the new police unit, the National Knife Crime Centre (NKCC), to tackle the illegal online sale of knives. The NKCC coordinates policing activities and investigations into unlawful online knife and offensive weapons sales. It also acts as a coordination point for industry, including retailers, online companies, Ofcom and Trading Standards. The Centre will also provide the coordinating function for policing for the provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 for the reporting of bulk online sales of knives and the issuing of content removal notices to online companies and platforms to remove unlawful knife and weapons sales content.

On 1 April 2026 new guidance was published by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to ensure every child caught carrying a knife will be given a mandatory, targeted plan produced by Police and Youth Justice Services to turn them away from crime. It is estimated this will put support in place for around 1,000 children that currently get no support or intervention following being caught in possession of a knife.

We are working to improve multi-agency information sharing, The Serious Violence Duty places a legal requirement on police, local authorities, youth offending teams, health, fire and probation services to work together, analyse the drivers of serious violence in their areas and develop local strategies to tackle it. The Serious Violence Duty is supported by powers to share data and information, helping agencies identify vulnerable young people earlier and provide effective interventions before violence occurs.

The Home Office is piloting more than 50 Young Futures Panels to identify children and young people at risk of violence or exploitation and connect them to appropriate support, including mentoring and trusted adult interventions. Through the programme, local areas are supported to commission evidence-informed interventions that respond to local needs.

The 2025 independent evaluation of Violence Reduction Units found that, together with hotspot policing, they have reduced violence among under-25s, preventing an estimated 3,750 hospital admissions for violent injury and 550 admissions for assault with a sharp object since 2019.

We are also taking action in response to concerns about children being vulnerable to gang exploitation. The Home Office is funding the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to strengthen the intelligence-led law enforcement response to county lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation. Since July 2024, activity coordinated through the County Lines Programme has resulted in over 4,500 deal lines being closed, 12,600 arrests, 6,900 safeguarding referrals and 1,900 knives being seized. Independent evaluation found that the programme reduced hospitalisations resulting from knife stabbings by 25% across key exporter force areas.

The Government continues to encourage police forces to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Sceptre. The operation includes targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps of hotspot areas, surrender of knives, including through amnesty bins, test purchases of knives from retailers, and educational events. The latest phase of Sceptre took place between 18 and 24 May 2026.

Zombie-Style knives and machetes were banned from sale and possession on 24 September 2024. Under new provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026, anyone caught selling or possessing such a weapon, where a legal defence does not apply, may face up to 2 years imprisonment, a fine, or both. The provisions in the 2026 Act will be brought into force shortly.

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 will also provide the police with the power to issue content removal notices to require social media companies, online marketplaces, and search services to remove unlawful knife and offensive weapons content.  Failure to remove this content could result in both the company and a designated senior executive facing significant penalties. This meets the Government’s manifesto commitment to hold the senior executives of online companies accountable for flouting the rules around online knife sales.

The Government is also providing £2m funding in 2026/07 to the new police unit, the National Knife Crime Centre (NKCC), to tackle the illegal online sale of knives. The NKCC coordinates policing activities and investigations into unlawful online knife and offensive weapons sales. It also acts as a coordination point for industry, including retailers, online companies, Ofcom and Trading Standards. The Centre will also provide the coordinating function for policing for the provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 for the reporting of bulk online sales of knives and the issuing of content removal notices to online companies and platforms to remove unlawful knife and weapons sales content.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that their investigation continues as officers review evidence, including video footage supplied by witnesses. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

Border Force uses advance data and intelligence to risk assess movements crossing the UK Border; this includes targeting the illegal importation of offensive weapons to prevent their delivery to a UK recipient. Border Force work closely with partners agencies to protect our borders and keep the public safe from harmful weapons.

Border Force uses advance data and intelligence to risk assess movements crossing the UK Border; this includes targeting the illegal importation of offensive weapons to prevent their delivery to a UK recipient. Border Force works with other agencies tirelessly to protect our borders and keep the public safe from harmful or illegal bladed weapons.

Knife seizures are in transparency Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (Knives includes items such as Butterfly Knives, Disguised Knives, Stealth Knives)

2023 Q1: 700

2023 Q2: 742

2023 Q3: 1234

2023 Q4: 1276

2024 Q1: 618

2024 Q2: 890

2024 Q3: 1350

2024 Q4: 389

2025 Q1: 845

2025 Q2: 780

2025 Q3: 958

2025 Q4: 334

2026 Q1: 1162

2026 Q2: 1567

The Government shares concerns over the misuse of both manufactured and homemade catapults, whether against people, property or wildlife.

There are a wide range of laws in place to punish those who misuse catapults. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies, including Dorset police, with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour, including involving catapults. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs).

Under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, if a person carries an offensive weapon in a public place or threatens a person with an offensive weapon, they may face up to 4 years in prison. The definition of an 'offensive weapon' may include a catapult depending on the circumstances of the case.

Where a catapult is used to harm a person, under the Offences against the Person Act 1861, it could be charged as assault occasioning actual bodily harm which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment, or the offence of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Specific to animals and birds, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales and there are a range of other offences found in further legislation to protect wild animals from cruelty such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

We have noted proposals for new restrictions, and we are actively considering what more might be done