DORSET Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick has welcomed plans to increase police powers to seize and destroy “zombie-style” knives and machetes with no practical use.

The maximum sentence for importing, manufacturing, possessing and selling these weapons will be two years, the government has announced.

The government will also be expanding the definition of zombie knives - which were made illegal in 2016 - to include any bladed weapon more than eight inches long with a plain-cutting edge and sharp pointed end that also has either a serrated cutting edge, more than one hole in the blade or multiple sharp points like spikes.

This means that certain machetes will now also be banned, under the new definition.

A new offence will also be introduced for possessing bladed articles “with the intention to endanger life or cause fear of violence”.

The government said the measures, first proposed in April, will be legislated 'when Parliament allows' following a public consultation.

Mr Sidwick said: "I know that knife crime is a high concern for many Dorset residents – so I am pleased that the issue of knife crime is on the Home Office's agenda and welcome the announcement that they plan to ban more weapons and introduce a new offence for those found in possession.

"I welcome these changes and hope that they will make it more difficult for offenders to get a hold of dangerous weapons and allow the police to persecute those who supply and sell them.

"I hope that Dorset’s communities will be reassured that with these changes, violent criminality will face the punishments it deserves, and lives will be saved."

Ministers hope the changes will close a loophole which has seen some retailers continue to sell dangerous weapons without breaking the law by removing certain banned features.

But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the newly prohibited weapons "should have been banned years ago", and accused the Government of failing to properly close gaps in the current legislation.

She said: "This is the sixth time in seven years that the Conservatives have promised to outlaw zombie knives. Time and again the Tories have been hopelessly weak and slow to tackle this serious and dangerous crime."