The British interior ministry announced that at least 1,000 weapons have been surrendered under a government amnesty launched last month to combat knife crime. The government has pledged tougher age checks for knife buyers, warned social media firms they could face fines for failing to curb sales and promotion of weapons, and banned zombie-style knives, machetes, and ninja swords. In July, the government urged young people to drop off weapons, including bladed ones, at “amnesty” bins or a mobile van. The interior ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Charities and experts call the government’s efforts a step forward but say they fail to address the root causes. The interior ministry said that knife-related robberies have fallen in seven highest-risk areas, dropping from 14% of all robberies in the year ending June 2024 to 6% in the same period to June 2025. The ban on buying and selling ninja swords is part of the government’s pledge to introduce Ronan’s Law, named in honour of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was fatally stabbed with a ninja sword in 2022.
