Council leaders have called for a ban on horror-film inspired zombie weapons and a new industry-backed code of practice for the way knives are named and promoted.
With knife crime on the rise across England and Wales, it said the sale of items such as the Apocalypse Head Decapitator should be outlawed.
Although they are marketed as collectables, the Local Government Association (LGA) said they too often fall into the hands of criminal gangs.
Anyone 18 and over can currently buy them legally from a number of UK-based online firms. The LGA wants 'zombie' knives, some of which are up to two feet in length, to be banned under the Knives Act.
Cllr Simon Blackburn, chair of the LGA’s safer and stronger communities board, said: ‘Irresponsible online retailers are playing with fire by unwittingly feeding a new knife trend, which could lead to tragedy.
‘These so-called zombie knives have only one lethal purpose – to threaten, injure or kill someone. Yet under current laws they can be ordered with a couple of clicks online and kept in people’s homes. This only serves to increase the number of lethal blades in society and flies in the face of anti-knife crime policy.
‘With knife crime rising, businesses should frankly think about their wider responsibilities and voluntarily withdraw from sale these deadly weapons which have no other purpose than to cause harm. If they don’t, then they need to be outlawed.
‘A code of practice – similar to those set up by the drinks industry – should be established to ensure retailers stop glamourising knives. Certain knives have a practical use in the home and garden, but these 'zombie' knives are being recklessly marketed as “collectables” with no legitimate usage. They need to be banned as soon as possible to help safeguard our communities.’
