Surrender and compensation scheme in Scotland for certain offensive weapons: guidance

2. Eligibility (people and property)

After the surrender scheme closes and the relevant provisions in Part 4 of the 2019 Act are commenced it will become a criminal offence to possess the items set out in Annex A, unless you have a lawful defence as set out in Annex A. You will also no longer be able to claim compensation from the Scottish Government.

You can only apply for compensation for eligible items surrendered under this scheme if you are the legal owner of the item and you surrendered them to the police during the three-month surrender period, in accordance with this guidance. The surrender period will run between 1 July 2022 and 30 September 2022.

2.1 Knives and other offensive weapons

To be eligible to claim compensation for one of the offensive weapons set out in Annex A (other than a cyclone knife), you must:

• be the legal owner of the item and, where possible, should provide acceptable proof that you lawfully own the item. This could include a dated receipt of purchase, or legal documentation showing inheritance or transfer of ownership. You will also be asked to provide a signed declaration that you are the legal owner of the item and that it was lawfully acquired, when completing the Surrender and Compensation Scheme Claim Form; and
• have owned or contracted to acquire the weapon on or before 20 June 2018 (unless this is a cyclone knife, see below). If you acquired the item, or contracted to acquire it, after this date, you will still need to safely dispose of it and should do so by surrendering the item to the police at a designated police station, but you will not be eligible to claim compensation under this scheme.

In the case of a cyclone knife you must:

• be the legal owner of the item and, where possible, you should provide acceptable proof that you lawfully own the item. This could include a dated receipt of purchase, or legal documentation showing inheritance or transfer of ownership. You will also be asked to provide a signed declaration that you are the legal owner of the item and that it was lawfully acquired, when completing the Surrender and Compensation Scheme claim form; and
• have owned or contracted to acquire the weapon on or before 22 January 2019. If you acquired the item, or contracted to acquire it, after this date, you will still need to safely dispose of it and should do so by surrendering the item to the police at a designated police station, but you will not be eligible to claim compensation under this scheme.

In the case of a zombie knife you must:

• be the legal owner of the item and, where possible, you should provide acceptable proof that you lawfully own the item. This could include a dated receipt of purchase, or legal documentation showing inheritance or transfer of ownership. You will also be asked to provide a signed declaration that you are the legal owner of the item and that it was lawfully acquired, when completing the Surrender and Compensation Scheme claim form; and
• have owned or contracted to acquire the weapon on or before 29 April 2022. If you acquired the item, or contracted to acquire it, after this date, you will still need to safely dispose of it and should do so by surrendering the item to the police at a designated police station, but you will not be eligible to claim compensation under this scheme.

Compensation is sought by submitting to Police Scotland a completed Surrender and Compensation Scheme Claim Form. This must be completed in advance and handed to the police, with any supporting documents (if appropriate) at the time of surrender.