Government Announces Stricter Online Knife Sale Regulations Following Southport Murders

New measures will require enhanced ID checks at purchase and delivery to prevent under-18s from accessing dangerous weapons online.

The government will mandate two-step ID verification for online knife purchases, requiring photo ID at both the point of sale and delivery.
Delivery drivers will only be allowed to hand over knives to the person who placed the order, with no doorstep drop-offs permitted.
The measures follow the Southport murders, where 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana used loopholes to buy knives online and killed three young girls.
Retailers failing to comply with the new regulations could face fines or up to six months in jail under the updated Crime and Policing Bill.
The legislation also includes penalties for social media companies that fail to remove content promoting knife violence within 48 hours.