Idris Elba labels UK government's crackdown on zombie knives as 'symbolic step in right direction' but says it doesn't go far enough

Idris Elba has praised the UK government’s crackdown on zombie knives, but said that it doesn’t go far enough.

The actor, 51, has been a fierce proponent against knife crime in Britain, which has surged in recent years with many of the victims being teenage boys.

He has launched a new campaign called Don’t Stop Your Future, and is demanding an immediate ban on machetes and so-called ‘zombie knives’.

It was announced on Wednesday, that fresh legislation is set to be introduced to Parliament, which Home Secretary James Cleverly said seeks to ‘close that loophole’ on outlawing the weapons.

Zombie-style knives were first banned in 2016 but ministers hope these tighter measures will stop some retailers being able to sell dangerous knives and machetes without breaking the law.

Idris Elba has praised the UK government ‘s crackdown on zombie knives, but said that it doesn’t go far enough

The actor, 51, has been a fierce proponent against knife crime in Britain, which has surged in recent years with many of the victims being teenage boys

He has launched a new campaign called Don’t Stop Your Future, and is demanding an immediate ban on machetes and so-called ‘zombie knives’

However, Labour said the changes had already been promised by six Conservative home secretaries and ‘loopholes’ mean they do not go far enough to be a ‘comprehensive ban’.

Idris appeared on BBC Breakfast on Thursday morning to discuss the new measures, saying while they are welcome progress but there is still so much more to be done.

He said: ‘This is a symbolic step in the right direction. It is only a step in the right direction because there is such a long road to go.

‘There’s so many facets to this issue that need to be addressed but banning them outright – the sale, the manufacture of them in our country – is a step in the right direction and I feel that’s a good step.

‘It’s a small win for the families, for the victims, that are sitting there wondering why our government hasn’t done something like this earlier.

‘Even though they have done it before, they left so many loopholes it allowed the sales to continue. So this feels a lot more robust, a lot more thinking has been put into the banning of it and hopefully there aren’t any loopholes.’

However, he pointed out that not all knives are banned, including swords, and explained why this still represented a ‘big issue’.

Idris said: ‘[There] are a few reasons why swords aren’t included because some swords are considered collector’s items, some swords have historical value but overall we believe that if you have a sword and it’s a family heirloom or has historical value, [you] have a licence for it.

It was announced on Wednesday, that fresh legislation is set to be introduced to Parliament, which Home Secretary James Cleverly (pictured) said seeks to ‘close that loophole’ on outlawing the weapons

Zombie-style knives were first banned in 2016 but ministers hope these tighter measures will stop some retailers being able to sell dangerous knives and machetes without breaking the law

The ban, coming into force from September, will make it illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or transport these zombie-style knives and machetes (pictured two examples of ‘zombie knives’)

He added: ‘I think swords in this country are not needed on the streets.’

The ban, coming into force from September, will make it illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or transport these zombie-style knives and machetes.

So-called zombie knives are currently defined by the Government as a blade with ‘a cutting edge, a serrated edge and images or words suggesting it is used for violence’.

A surrender scheme is also being put in place for people to give up their weapons before the law comes into force without any consequences.

Idris also explained how he is motivated to campaign on the issue because of he is a parent, father to both a son and daughter.

Discussing whether MPs have the proper understanding of the issues around knife crime, he argued that it was vital to talk to people on the streets as well as victims and their families to understand the problem.

He said: ‘I really can’t talk about what politicians think or don’t think. Just because they’re a politician doesn’t make them qualified to know what’s going on on the streets.

‘But the streets do, the communities do, the mothers and the victims do, and what we need to do is listen to them as well, we need to understand.

Idris appeared on BBC Breakfast on Thursday morning to discuss the new measures, saying while they are welcome progress but there is still so much more to be done

Idris kickstarted his campaign with the release of a new track, Knives Down, to address the knife crime epidemic (pictured in music video)

‘Stats are stats. But the truth is I’m a parent, I’m doing this as a parent, I’m doing this because I don’t know what the stats are, I just know I don’t want my son or any child to find themselves lying in a hospital bed because our Government hasn’t really addressed this properly.

‘So, I really don’t want to talk about what the thoughts of politicians are. I will say this, though, we have to move in the right direction. I think today is significant in that direction.’

Idris kickstarted his campaign with the release of a new track, Knives Down, to address the knife crime epidemic.

The Luther star’s efforts have caused the campaign to garner lots of traction, with the government fast-tracking the ban through Parliament just two weeks after Idris demanded them to act.

Policing minister Chris Philp denied the Tory Party has only acted over zombie knives following The Wire star’s push by to ban more weapons.

Asked whether it takes a campaign by a top British actor to get the Conservatives to act, he told GB News: ‘No, it doesn’t, these measures were announced about three or four months ago … this was all in progress already.

‘We worked on drafting the legislation over the run-up to Christmas and it’s being laid in Parliament today.

‘But I think he was making some good points. We want to work together with charities and other campaigners to make sure we’re doing everything possible.’

Policing minister Chris Philp (pictured) denied the Tory Party has only acted over zombie knives following The Wire star’s push by to ban more weapons

In a new interview with HypeBeast, Idris laid out his aims for the campaign, saying: ‘Short term, I want to get an immediate ban on these crazy knives. Zombie knives, samurais, machetes. Just ban them and make them difficult to acquire, to sell, to distribute, to hold on to you know.

‘I get that, from a young man’s perspective, he feels like he needs protection. I get that. But, on the other hand, some people just want power. They want to be like, “Yo, nobody’s f***ing with me,” and I get that also.

‘But I still don’t think these knives have a place in our society. They’re a consequence of a society that’s not looking after young people. They’re a consequence of neglect.’

He continued: ‘In terms of long term wins, let’s get to the root of the problem, and that includes asking “Why?” this is happening, bolstering services so the kids have something to do.

‘Gang culture is gonna be there forever, I’m never going to eradicate that. But what I can attempt to do is get everyone thinking about how to give kids an alternative to fighting, to hating, to stabbing, and ultimately killing their futures.

‘I also think that our long term goal would be for the government to think about sustainable options to rehabilitation and the prison system.

‘Obviously the victim suffers, but oftentimes the perpetrator is either a victim himself or herself. A victim of abuse, of bullying, of bad parenting, a victim of being coerced into a gang.’

He also detailed why he thought it was taking the Government so long to act on the issue, saying: ‘I think it’s classed as a London problem. It’s a nationwide problem. It’s black, white, brown, you name it.

Idris has received praise for using his status to help raise awareness of an issue which is ‘devastating communities’, including from London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan

‘And it’s not only related to gangs. Knife culture in England is as old as the turn of the century. There’s a really long history in knife culture and I feel the media doesn’t always know how to talk about it.’

When the Home Secretary was asked why the legislation has taken so long, James said: ‘We have already taken action to make the carrying of zombie knives illegal.

‘When I became Home Secretary, I made the immediate decision to go further to put forward this secondary legislation to support what we’ve already done to make the possession of zombie knives illegal and to close that loophole.

‘So I’m very pleased we’re taking action now and we’ll be determined to get these knives off the streets.’

Announcing the measures, he added: ‘We cannot let them be sold to children, and we must give young people a way out of violence.’

He added that the steps being taken this week are ‘further strengthening’ the Government’s ability to tackle knife crime.

He added: ‘We’ll add to what has been a success story since 2019. We’ve seen a very significant reduction in knife crime over that time. We have a plan which is working and driving down knife crime.’

Idris has received praise for using his status to help raise awareness of an issue which is ‘devastating communities’.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme this week, Idris added that the ‘country is at a boiling point’, and there needs to be a ‘voice or a fixed point’ that people can rally around to address the issue

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has also applauded the actor for helping to shine a light on ‘this crucial issue’.

Responding questions about why he felt the need to get involved, Idris said: ‘It is not about being an actor or a politician, we are all human beings and we live in a society.

‘If I don’t feel safe just because I am an actor should I not say that? I think we should all speak up when we should and this is a moment where we should speak up. In Parliament today we have laid out symbolic clothes of some of the actual victims.

‘At the top of this year usually everyone has got a New Year resolution, let’s take that new vigour and let’s apply it to eradicating knife crime. We can do it as a society.

‘I am just a parent. I am a parent that cares for my children like I’d care for yours. But I do think that having a soapbox as an actor allows me to speak a little higher than some people.

‘I am also a target as well to get criticised, but I don’t care about that as much as I care about what we’ve got to do as a society to look after our youth’.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme this week, Idris added that the ‘country is at a boiling point’, and there needs to be a ‘voice or a fixed point’ that people can rally around to address the issue. 

It comes amid a series of horrific stabbings across the UK including 16-year-old schoolboy Harry Pitman who was knifed to death as he stood and waited to watch the Primrose Hill New Year’s Eve fireworks in Camden this month.

It comes amid a series of horrific stabbings across the UK including 16-year-old schoolboy Harry Pitman who was knifed to death as he stood and waited to watch the Primrose Hill New Year’s Eve fireworks in Camden this month (Harry pictured)

The murder, which took place just minutes before midnight, made him at least the 17th teenager brutally killed in the capital in 2023 – most of those cruelly taken away from their loved ones in the last year had also been stabbed.

In August last year the government announced a ban on machetes and zombie-style knives with no practical use, as well as an increase in the maximum penalty for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of these weapons and greater powers for police to seize them.

But it is yet to legislate for the changes and Idris said Parliament had not given it the focus it deserved, lobbying for more funding in youth services.

It comes as Labour announced a £100 million youth programme to tackle knife crime.

The new plan, a direct echo of New Labour’s SureStart childcare scheme, would see a nationwide targeted programme aimed at identifying and supporting young people at risk of being drawn into violent crime.