More than 63,000 knives and weapons have been taken off our
streets under this government.
Over the same period, knife homicides have fallen by 27%,
with knife-point robberies and hospital admissions for
stabbings down by 10% and 11% respectively.
Successful surrender schemes, bans of zombie-style
knives, machetes and ninja swords since the election, have
seen 57,726 knives and weapons handed in.
Border Force have also seized 4,656 knives at the border and the
police have removed a further 1,229 during operations conducted
under the County Lines Programme.
The figures came as the government launched its plan to
halve knife crime within a decade. Titled “Protecting Lives,
Building Hope”, it will save lives, transform the futures of
young people, and protect communities across the
country.
To tackle knife crime, the government will support
young people so they get the best start in life,
stop those at risk from turning to knife crime and police our
streets to catch and punish perpetrators.
Crime and Policing Minister said:
Knife crime ruins lives, devastates families and damages
communities. It is why we are determined to rid our streets of
these dangerous weapons.
The government will halve knife crime within a decade, saving
lives and protecting communities.
We will deploy successful surrender schemes and strict online
sales, as well as giving young people
the support they need to get knives off our
streets.
Following the devastating loss of her son, Ronan, who was fatally
stabbed in 2022 with a ninja
sword purchased online, his mum, Pooja Kanda, has
spearheaded a campaign to bring about tighter controls for
online knife sales.
Ronan's Law was introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill and
will bring in a mandatory two-stage age verification system for
knives sold online at the point of purchase and delivery, as well
as a requirement to report any bulk knife purchases to law
enforcement.
Ronan's mum, Pooja Kanda, member of the government's
Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, said:
As a mother who has lost my son to knife crime, I know the
devastating reality of this crime. Seeing more than 63,000 knives
removed from our streets, thanks to the government's work,
is significant progress and will help save
lives.
Ronan was an innocent child and his death exposed how
easily dangerous weapons could be accessed. Through my work with
the government on Ronan's Law, we are beginning to
see important changes, from stronger age verification to
greater accountability for retailers – and that progress is
welcome.
There is always more to do, more gaps to close so that no child
can suffer as mine did. Ronan should still be here. His legacy is
ensuring that other families do not have to live through the same
pain.
Further measures being introduced through the Crime and Policing
Bill will introduce a new offence of possession of a knife with
intent to commit unlawful violence. This includes possession in
private. There will also be a new power
for the police to seize a knife intended for unlawful
violence.
