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2mo ago

UK Government Introduces Tougher Knife Sale Laws Following Tragic Teen Murders

New measures include stricter ID checks, mandatory reporting of bulk purchases, and increased penalties for selling knives to minors.

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said that stricter age verification requirements for the online sale of knives would be enforced by a new dedicated police unit
Thousands of weapons are being sold illegally on social media, a review found (Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire)
A handout image released by Merseyside Police shows a replica of the knife used in the July Southport attack by Axel Rudakubana
Ronan Kanda, 16, was attacked near his home in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region of England in July 2022 and died at the scene after being stabbed twice in what emerged as a case of mistaken identity. (HT File)

Overview

  • The UK government unveiled 'Ronan's Law,' named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was killed in 2022 with a knife purchased online.
  • Retailers will now be required to report bulk or suspicious knife purchases to police to prevent illegal resales.
  • Selling knives to under-18s will carry a maximum prison sentence of two years, up from six months, and CEOs may be held personally accountable.
  • A new two-step ID verification process will mandate checks at both the point of sale and delivery for online knife purchases.
  • The measures aim to tackle the ease of access to knives online, with additional proposals for a retailer registration scheme under consultation.