Police gave Kidderminster man illegal weapons back

Tony Cullwick said he broke up the knives fearing he would be in trouble again and decided to return them to the police station but – when the handles didn’t fit in the surrender bin – he was advised to "take them to the tip".

West Mercia Police have admitted to giving Mr Cullwick his prohibited weapons back and have apologised for the mistake.  

Mr Cullwick cut up the weapons and returned them to Kidderminster Police Station (Image: Tony Cullwick)

Mr Cullwick was taken to court in January after having 24 offensive weapons seized by police from his address. 

He pleaded guilty and was handed a forfeiture and destruction notice on the illegal weapons including two zombie knives and some samurai swords that were over 50cm and had a curved blade. 

The 37-year-old carer, who has been an avid collector of weapons for display since he was 18, was also fined £80.

The weapons that were not prohibited could be returned to him but Mr Cullwick said that when he went to collect his belongings at Kidderminster Police Station, some of the illegal weapons were handed back to him.

The weapons that were returned to Mr Cullwick (Image: Tony Cullwick)

He said: "It's an absolute joke to be honest with you. When I noticed what they had done, I rang my solicitor up to ask what I should do. They advised me to take the weapons back to the police station. 

"I destroyed the weapons myself and cut them up as I had already been taken to court for them and I didn't want to get into any more trouble. I then took them back to the police station but they wouldn't have them back." 

Mr Cullwick has collected weapons since he was 18 to display in his home (Image: Tony Cullwick)

Mr Cullwick tried to put the weapons in the knife surrender bin but said the handles, which still contained part of the blades, didn't fit in the bin. He asked officers to take them off him but they advised him to "take the handles to the tip."

He said: "They kicked up a stink about my weapons which I've been collecting for years but were arguing with me over taking the handles.

"I know it was only the handles, but they still had part of the blade in them and were sharp. They shouldn't have given my illegal weapons back in the first place, especially the zombie knife. 

"I did the right thing and destroyed the weapons but in the wrong hands, someone could have kept them and not said anything. I just want people to be aware of what has happened. Police want knives off the streets but it took them ages to agree to take the handles off me."

West Mercia Police have thanked Mr Cullwick for highlighting the error and have said they will "review their processes swiftly to ensure this is addressed". 

West Mercia Police have apologised for the mistake (Image: Tony Cullwick)

Mr Cullwick said the officers did take the handles off him in the end but he wanted to raise awareness about what had happened so the same mistakes weren’t repeated.

A police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a number of knives were returned to Mr Cullwick as per the forfeiture and destruction notice and unfortunately knives which should not have been returned to him were. We appreciate Mr Cullwick highlighting this error.

"We apologise for this error and will review our processes swiftly to ensure this is addressed."