Police are offering to pay people to hand over their ninja swords - or they could face prison time.

West Yorkshire Police is joining partner forces across the country in supporting a new Home Office surrender and compensation scheme for the soon to be banned weapons starting on July 1 and running up to July 31.

The scheme is launching ahead of new legislation which will come into effect on 1 August making it a criminal offence to possess ninja swords in private or manufacture, import, or sell them. It is already a criminal offence to carry the weapons in public.

To be eligible to claim compensation for one of the ninja swords you must lawfully own the item and be able to provide proof, such as a receipt, that it was bought before March 27, 2025. The standard compensation offered by the Home Office will be £5 per weapon, unless proof can be provided the item had a higher cost.

Only ninja swords legally bought before March 27 this year will be eligible for compensation, but police encourage everyone who currently owns one of these swords to surrender it to the police before they become illegal, irrespective of the compensation scheme.

Ninja swords are defined as having a blade between 14 and 24 inches, a straight cutting edge, and a tanto-style point (angled tip). Possession in private, supply, sale, and importation of ninja swords after 1 August could lead to a prison sentence of up to six months, potentially increasing to two years under new measures.

Carrying a weapon in public already carries a penalty of up to four years in prison. Chief Inspector James Kitchen of Operation Jemlock, said: “We welcome this Home Office surrender for ninja swords, and I would urge anyone who legally owns one to take advantage of the scheme and hand them in.

“We have seen cases locally and nationally where these weapons have been used to cause fear and injury. The 2022 murder of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, in Wolverhampton through the use of ninja sword, particularly illustrates the danger they pose. Carrying one of the weapons in public was already a criminal offence punishable by a prison sentence, but the upcoming ban on keeping them in the home will only support us by significantly reducing their availability.”

He added: “The Home Office is paying compensation for each sword handed in, so clearly it is in the interests of owners to do the right thing and dispose of these blades safely with us before it becomes a crime to possess them.

“While West Yorkshire Police is taking part in the national surrender, I do want to reassure residents that if any weapons are handed to us which are linked to crime, we will of course fully investigate and take necessary action. During the surrender officers working on Jemlock will also be visiting those who currently sell these weapons to remind them of the new legislation.

“Reducing knife crime remains a priority for West Yorkshire Police and the Violence Reduction Partnership and we fully investigate all incidents of serious violence.”

Alison Lowe OBE is West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and said: “Removing these deadly weapons from our communities, whether you are in public or not, is a crucial step towards meeting the ambition of halving knife crime in the next decade.

“With serious violence a top priority of the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan, I really welcome the tightening of legislation, which supports our prevention and early intervention focus. I would urge those who own them to use this opportunity to surrender the swords and help keep West Yorkshire a safe place to live and work."

People in West Yorkshire who bought and legally own the weapons will be able to hand them in at police station helpdesks at:

Compensation can only be claimed at the same time as a weapon is being handed over, and those doing so should download and complete a compensation form before attending one of the five designated West Yorkshire police stations. The form, and more details of the scheme, can be found on the UK Government website at Ninja sword surrender and compensation scheme - GOV.UK

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