Idris Elba calls for immediate ban on machetes and ‘zombie’ knives

Actor and musician also calls for more funding for youth services as part of campaign to end youth knife violence

Idris Elba has called for more urgent action on youth knife violence - including the immediate banning of machetes and zombie" knives, and more funding for youth services - saying the time for excuses and delays is over.

Speaking to the Guardian on Monday, the star of Luther and The Wire said society was capable of coming together to solve the problem, adding that experts in youth services and bereaved families needed to be able to sit in the same room as politicians and the police, among others, to achieve that.