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Online retailers who sell bladed weapons will face tougher rules under new plans announced by the government to crack down on knife crime in the UK.
Retailers will be required to report bulk or suspicious-looking knife purchases to police, while prison sentences for selling knives to under-18s will increase from six months to two years. Such sentences could apply to individuals who process sales or even CEOs of companies who sell knives.
The new measures will collectively be known as Ronan’s Law, named after Ronan Kanda, who was stabbed to death in Wolverhampton in 2022 when he was just 16 years old.
A new offence of possessing an offensive weapon with intent for violence will also be introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill in the spring, which will come with a sentence of up to four years in prison. This change will mean that, regardless of whether a weapon is legal or not, the person carrying it can be prosecuted if they intend to cause harm.
The government will also hold a consultation later this year to explore whether a registration scheme should be put in place for all online retailers selling knives so that only responsible sellers are able to sell them. This follows the government’s recent announcement that it will significantly strengthen ID checks on the sale and delivery of knives to keep streets safe as part of the Plan for Change.
“It is horrifying how easy it is for young people to get hold of knives online even though children’s lives are being lost, and families and communities are left devastated as a result.
“Not enough has been done to tackle the online market over recent years which is why we made it an urgent priority in our manifesto and the measures today will be underpinned by investment for a new dedicated police unit to go after those who are breaking the law and putting children and teenagers lives at risk.
“We are honouring our commitment to introduce Ronan’s Law in memory of Ronan Kanda who was tragically killed in 2022. I am so grateful to the Kanda family for their endless perseverance in ensuring governments take the right actions to protect young people from further tragedy.
“This government has set an ambitious mission for the country to halve knife crime over the next decade and we will pursue every possible avenue to save young lives.”
Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper.
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