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<p>The Government continues to work with the police and partners to ensure we reduce
violence and knife crime, and in the year ending June 2015, knife crime recorded by
the police was 17% lower than 2010. We are aware of concerns about zombie knives and
we are currently considering representations including the letter of 13 January from
the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands and on 21 January from
the prospective mayoral candidate for London Zac Goldsmith. A reply will be sent shortly
and we will offer to meet with the PCC.</p><p>We are currently considering what action
to take against the prevalence of zombie knives on our streets. We are talking to
retailers, including Amazon, about the action they can take. There are strict laws
on the sale of knives to under 18s and on how knives can be marketed. We are concerned
about any knives being carried in public especially if used to threaten and inflict
violence. It is a criminal offence to possess a knife in public without good reason,
and if a person is convicted a second time they now face a minimum mandatory custodial
sentence following the introduction of this change by the Government in July 2015.</p>
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