Terrifying types of machetes and zombie knives could be banned in England and Wales with criminals who buy or sell them facing up to two years in jail under new Government plans.
Certain types of the blades which are "designed to look menacing" and have no legitimate use are not currently prohibited but would be outlawed under the measures, the Home Office has said.
Police would also be given more powers to seize and destroy the weapons while criminals would face tougher sentences for their sale and possession, according to a seven-week consultation on the proposals launched today.
Read more: "I can't forget it" - Fenham shop keeper says he is haunted by terrifying machete attack
The proposals have been welcomed by police and knife crime campaigners.
However Carly Barrett whose sister Samantha Madgin was stabbed to death in Wallsend 16 years ago, believes action should have been taken to get these deadly weapons off the streets far sooner.
The 32-year-old, said: "We can't actually believe that these sorts of knives were not already banned. This does bring an improvement to knife crime and hopefully figures, in time, will decrease but so many lives have been lost to get to this point.
Actions like these should have been taken earlier and lives may have been saved. It's 16 years this year since we lost Samantha and we are only now beginning to see small changes but how many lives have actually been lost in the last 16 years? How many families have had to suffer and live the life we have lived?"
While some machetes and similar knives can have "legitimate uses", such as in gardening, criminals are "buying, selling and using larger bladed articles as weapons to intimidate and cause others serious harm", the Home Office warned.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: "The thugs wielding these deadly knives aim to terrorise their victims and the public, and too often even carry out horrific or fatal attacks. They are emboldened by the cowardly idea that carrying these blades inflates their own status and respect.
"This can't go on. These plans seek to give the police greater powers to seize and destroy these weapons and impose harsher penalties on the criminals selling them, keeping them off our streets and making communities safer."
Det Chief Insp Linda Bradley, of the Metropolitan Police said: "I cannot help but reflect that large knives and machetes being sold online is open to abuse and lamentably continues to be a risk to the public."
Offences covering the importing, manufacturing, selling or supplying of prohibited offensive weapons, and selling blades to children, would carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison if the plans come into force.
Under current laws, if police find a machete or other legal blade in someone's home they cannot seize or act on this, even if they believe the items will be used in crime. Giving police more powers will allow officers to seize certain blades even if the items are not prohibited, the Home Office said.
It stressed that any changes would "carefully define" which knives would be banned. The Government is also considering whether to create a new offence for "carrying a bladed item with the intention to injure or cause fear".
And the consultation is looking at whether the criminal justice system should treat public possession of knives and other offensive weapons more seriously.
However, Carly fears tougher sentences will not act as a deterrent if they are not implemented by the courts.
"They are saying you can receive a sentence of up to two years for carrying these knives but will these sentences actually be implemented?," she said. "You can receive up to four years for possession of a knife but these sentences are not given enough.
"How many do we actually see or hear of getting a prison sentence for possession of a knife? There is no deterrent for young people, they have no fear of the law. As a family passionate and determined to make changes and save lives we need to see more action like this, not just words."
New mum Samantha, 18, was stabbed to death by 15-year-old stranger Jordon Jobson in Wallsend, in 2007.
Jobson, from Walker in Newcastle, was convicted of murder and jailed for life. She was originally handed a minimum term of 15 years. However, after two separate appeals, that was reduced to 11 years.
In 2019 Carly and her mum Alison Madgin marked what would have been Samantha’s 30th birthday by setting up Samantha's Legacy.
The organisation, which relies on donations to keep going, offers knife crime workshops in schools, support to families and a tranquil victim's retreat for those who have lost loved ones.
The Chronicle launched its Stop Knives Taking Lives campaign in February, after a spate of tragedies in our region.
Along with police, politicians and victims' families we are calling on everyone in the North East to come together to tackle knife crime.
As part of the campaign Fenham shopkeeper Tariq Sheik has shared the ongoing trauma he suffers after being attacked with a machete more than five years ago.
The dad suffered horrific injuries when armed raiders Ricky Weatherson and Michael Quinn burst into his shop and threatened him before hitting him with the fearsome blade. The blow was so forceful it shattered a bone in his shoulder and he was left bleeding on the shop floor.
The 43-year-old said: "I can't forget it. I still get flashbacks like it was yesterday. It will stay with me for the rest of my life."
In October 2018 Weatherson, 27, of Rushie Avenue, in Scotswood, was handed an extended sentence of 15 years plus four years on licence, and Quinn, 37, of Colston Street, Benwell, was given 16 years with four years on licence. Both were convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with a string of raids.
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