Public urged to surrender ninja swords in Dorset
Dorset Police is appealing to the public to hand in ninja swords ahead of a change in the law that will make them illegal to own from August
Last updated 3rd Jul 2025
Dorset Police has launched a month-long appeal for people to hand in ninja swords, ahead of a change in the law that will make them illegal to own from 1 August 2025.
The force is supporting a national weapons surrender scheme running until Wednesday 31 July, which allows people to give up the blades anonymously — and, in some cases, claim compensation.
Ninja swords are defined under the new legislation as having blades between 14 and 24 inches, with a tanto or reversed tanto-style point. Some may also feature a second blade fixed at an angle.
Three police stations in Dorset have been designated as drop-off points:
Bournemouth Police Station, Madeira Road
Poole Police Station, Wimborne Road
Weymouth Police Station, Radipole Lane
Chief Inspector Andy Bell, knife crime lead for Dorset Police, said: “Although Dorset has one of the lowest rates of knife crime, we do take these offences very seriously and will continue to educate the public and aim to remove knife crime from the streets.
“People may not even be aware that it soon becomes illegal for them to own a ninja sword – even if they keep it at home. I’d urge anyone with a knife that meets the criteria to take this opportunity to surrender it and claim compensation.
Detailed guidance on the weapons that will become illegal and eligible for surrender and compensation, as well as how to securely and safely package and transport the weapon to the police station, can be found here.