Call to surrender weapons in return for cash under compensation scheme

Scots are being called on to give up zombie knives, hand claws and sword sticks.

Weapons surrender and compensation scheme launched by Scottish Government iStock

Owners of weapons including zombie knives, hand claws and sword sticks will be compensated under a new scheme launched in Scotland.

Under the Weapons Surrender and Compensation Scheme, that will run for three-months from Friday, members of the public could be rewarded if they hand in certain weapons to the police.

It comes as possession of “dangerous knives and offensive weapons” in private places is criminalised.

People who hand the weapons in will be compensated as little as £2, for a knuckleduster or push dagger, and £3, for a stealth knife or hollow kubotan, or as much as £40 for a gravity knife.

A claim can be made by anyone in possession of a weapon recently made illegal to possess in a private place through Section 44 or 46 of the Offensive Weapons 2019 Act.

As long as the weapon was legally purchased before June 20, 2018, for most of the weapons or January 22, 2019 for cyclone knives.

Other items listed for surrender and compensation are zombie knife (£10), flick knife or flick gun (£20), a hand claw (£9), sword stick (£12), belt buckle knife (£5), Kyoketsu-shoge (£20), Kusari Gama (£35) and blow-pipe aka blow-gun (£14).

However the Scottish Government said if anyone in possession of any items listed on its website believe it to be worth more money that the price being offered then a claim for more can be made.

A spokesperson said: “If you consider that your item is worth more than the standard amount of compensation published, it is open to you to make a claim for the higher amount and if you wish to do so you must provide acceptable supporting evidence of this value.

“This evidence, which must be submitted at the time of surrendering the item to Police Scotland, will be forwarded to the Scottish Government for consideration alongside a copy of your compensation claim.

“The amount of compensation due to you will be decided by the Scottish Government.

“If your claim is for over £250 for any single item it is recommended that you provide a photograph of the item along with the evidence of its value.”

From October 1 it will be a criminal offence to be found to be in possession of any of the items in a public place.

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