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More than 1,000 weapons have been surrendered under a UK government amnesty aimed at tackling the country’s worsening knife crime crisis as a ban on ninja swords comes into force, the Home Office said on Friday.
The month-long campaign, which ran throughout July, encouraged individuals, particularly young people, to hand in weapons anonymously at designated amnesty bins and mobile collection vans.
According to media reports, the initiative follows a string of high-profile knife attacks and is part of a broader government crackdown on the sale and possession of bladed weapons.
One of the most tragic incidents took place in July 2024, when 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana launched a stabbing spree at a Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance recital in Southport, leaving three girls dead and 10 others injured.
The tragedy sparked public outcry and prompted ministers to vow for stricter age checks, tougher enforcement on online weapon sales and a ban on specific bladed items, including zombie knives, machetes and now ninja swords.
As of Friday, it is against the law to “possess, manufacture, import or sell ninja swords in England and Wales,” according to a statement by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC).
The APCC also intends to understand the “root causes behind a person’s decision to carry a knife – a choice that places them at greater risk of becoming a victim of knife crime themselves.”
Individuals caught with such weapons in private can face up to six months in prison, a sentence that is expected to rise to two years under the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill. Possession in public already carries a penalty of up to four years’ imprisonment.
The new restriction is part of Ronan’s Law, named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who in 2022, was stabbed and killed with a ninja sword.
“We believe this new ban on Ninja swords will make a significant difference in the availability of these deadly weapons, including additional powers for the police to remove them, particularly in relation to gang related violence affecting young people,” the APCC said.
Knife crime in England and Wales has surged by 87% over the last ten years, with 54,587 incidents reported in the past year alone, a 2% increase from 2023 and some of the highest levels seen in Europe, local media reported.
