Idris Elba called on the government to immediately ban the sale of “zombie” knives and machetes, to reduce the number of young people losing their lives.
The actor told the BBC that plans to change the law, which would enforce the ban, needed to be done quickly.
He accused politicians of not giving the issue “the focus it deserves.”
The government said it remained “committed to taking further intervention measures”.
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It said it was banning the use of zombie-style knives and added that “an increasing number of knife-carrying criminals are being sentenced to harsher sentences”.
A zombie knife is defined as a weapon that has “a sharp tip, a serrated edge, and images or words that suggest the knife was used for violence.”
The knives were first put on the government’s list of banned offensive weapons in 2016. But Labor said there was still a loophole that allowed the sale of knives online.
Last August, Rishi Sunak announced plans to ban more guns and give police extra powers to confiscate zombie machetes and knives. This latest step is also designed to help the police deal with situations that fall outside the current law.
Specifically, officers were unable to handle zombie knives designed to circumvent the 2016 definition, due to the absence of “images or words… indicating that the knife was used for violent purposes.”
However, it is not yet clear when the new law will come into effect.
Elba, best known for his roles in Luther and The Wire, attended an event in Parliament Square on Monday morning, where clothing was laid out to represent those killed by knives on Britain’s streets.
Organizers hope the exhibition will show the huge loss of life caused by knife crime, as MPs return to Parliament after the Christmas recess.
The event is part of Elba’s Don’t Stop Your Future campaign, which works with local communities and well-known brands to try to tackle serious violence.
The 51-year-old London-born actor said he “cannot remain silent as so many young lives are lost due to brutal and senseless crimes”.
