After changes to recent legislation, from March 28 it’ll be illegal to have weapons such as specialised firearms and accessories, as well as disguised or hidden blade or spike, often referred to as “Credit Card Knives”.

ACT Policing’s detective superintendent Mick Calatzis says banning these weapons is a positive step and police will not hesitate to enforce the ban once it comes into effect.

“Community safety is of the utmost importance, and devices with hidden blades are inherently very dangerous, due to their nature as concealed weapons,” he says.

“These items have been on sale legally in many places for quite some time, and may have been brought into the country as souvenirs, they are still dangerous, and will be illegal from March 28.”

“If you have one of these credit card knives or a similar weapon, you should destroy it or dispose of it safely. If you want to keep the item, you can do so after removing the blade. It is not necessary to surrender the item at a police station.”

The maximum penalty for the unauthorised possession or use of a prohibited weapon, such as a credit card knife, is $75,000, imprisonment for 5 years, or both.

People with items that contain a concealed blade or spike and wish to speak to police or to make a report about a banned item, call 131 444 or visit Prohibited Weapons section