Councils across Northern Ireland are being asked to establish anonymous surrender bins for weapons including zombie knives, knuckledusters and butterfly knives at recycling centres as part of a new Department of Justice initiative launching this autumn.
The Offensive Weapon Surrender Scheme will provide two pathways for residents to dispose of prohibited items safely. Those seeking compensation can visit one of 17 designated police stations with their weapons and claim form, while individuals preferring anonymity can use surrender bins positioned at council recycling centres. According to draft compensation rules published for committee consideration, claimants must provide their name, date of birth and address, and surrendered items cannot be returned.
The scheme responds to changes in UK law stemming from the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. While possessing such weapons in public places is already illegal, the new legislation will criminalise private possession, bringing Northern Ireland into alignment with England, Scotland and Wales. According to the legislation, individuals convicted on summary conviction face a maximum of 12 months' imprisonment for private possession of specified weapons.
Currently, police can only seize offensive weapons from private premises if they constitute evidence in a criminal investigation. The new law will empower officers to seize such items based on possession alone and refer cases to prosecution authorities.
How will the compensation scheme work?
Compensation is available only when the total claim value exceeds £30. A knuckle-duster, for example, carries a compensation value of £2. Those using police stations for surrender must complete a claim form and provide personal identification details. The Department of Justice has confirmed that council staff managing recycling centre bins will have no contact with surrendered items and will not be required to handle or inspect them.
Which councils have confirmed participation?
Mid and East Antrim Council has confirmed three recycling centre locations will house surrender bins: Redlands in Larne, Sullatober in Carrickfergus and Waveney Road in Ballymena. Fermanagh and Omagh Council has also committed to the scheme and has maintained bins at their sites since 2021. The Department of Justice is working with all 11 councils across Northern Ireland to finalise remaining details.
What weapons are covered by the scheme?
The Offensive Weapons Act specifies numerous prohibited items. Disguised knives—weapons designed to resemble everyday objects—are included, alongside knuckledusters, butterfly knives, zombie knives and other bladed or blunt instruments deemed offensive under the legislation. The full range of prohibited items reflects concerns about weapons that may be concealed or used in serious violence.
How has the scheme performed elsewhere in the UK?
Similar amnesty programmes have operated in England and Wales since the Offensive Weapons Act came into force. According to Home Office figures cited in the draft commencement order, more than 15,000 knives and offensive weapons were surrendered through England-wide amnesty projects between July 2025 and August 2026. A recent UK government-backed knife surrender initiative, supported by charities Words4Weapons and Fazamnesty, deployed 37 static collection bins across the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and London, alongside a mobile surrender van.
Crime statistics suggest these efforts may be contributing to reductions in serious violence. The Office for National Statistics recorded a 14 per cent decline in knife or sharp instrument homicides in England and Wales between March 2025 and March 2026, with 176 offences compared to 204 the previous year—the lowest figure since March 1991.
What happens next?
Subject to approval by the Justice Committee and the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Department of Justice intends to launch the surrender and compensation scheme in autumn 2026 for an initial three-month period. Following this amnesty window, the new criminal offences for private possession will commence, making it illegal to hold specified weapons in homes or other private spaces. The scheme was originally designed to allow residents a defined period to dispose of prohibited items before enforcement begins.
The initiative reflects the UK government's broader response to serious violence and knife crime, which prompted the introduction of the Offensive Weapons Act. By providing safe, anonymous disposal routes and compensation incentives, policymakers aim to remove dangerous weapons from circulation while minimising barriers to voluntary surrender.
