What is the UK government doing to address the rise in knife crime?

The UK government has launched a weapon amnesty that has yielded over 1,000 surrendered weapons, and has also banned the sale of ninja swords and other bladed weapons as part of its efforts to curb the 87% increase in knife crime across England and Wales over the past decade.

How has the UK government's crackdown on knife crime impacted the West Midlands region?

The West Midlands region has seen the largest drop in knife-enabled robberies, with a 25% reduction in the past year, as a result of the government's targeted police action and tactics like using drones, knife arches, and detection dogs.

What was the catalyst for the UK government's renewed focus on knife crime?

In July 2024, a teenager attacked a children's dance event in Southport, killing three young girls and stabbing ten others, which prompted the government to take urgent action, including introducing tougher age checks for knife buyers and warning social media firms of potential fines for failing to curb weapon sales and promotion.

Home / Crime and Justice / UK Knife Amnesty Yields 1,000 Weapons as Ninja Sword Ban Takes Effect

UK Knife Amnesty Yields 1,000 Weapons as Ninja Sword Ban Takes Effect

1 Aug

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Summary

Over 1,000 weapons surrendered in UK knife amnesty
Knife crime in England and Wales up 87% in past decade
New ban on ninja swords and other bladed weapons

UK Knife Amnesty Yields 1,000 Weapons as Ninja Sword Ban Takes Effect

As of August 1st, 2025, the UK government's recent weapon amnesty has resulted in the surrender of over 1,000 knives and other bladed weapons. This amnesty was launched in July 2025 as part of the government's efforts to combat the alarming rise in knife crime across England and Wales.

Over the past decade, knife crime in the region has surged by 87%, with 54,587 offenses recorded just last year, a 2% increase from 2024. This crisis came to a head in July 2024, when a teenager attacked a children's dance event in Southport, killing three young girls and stabbing ten others.

In response, the UK government has taken several measures, including introducing tougher age checks for knife buyers, warning social media firms of potential fines for failing to curb weapon sales and promotion, and banning zombie-style knives, machetes, and now, ninja swords. The ban on ninja swords is part of the government's pledge to introduce "Ronan's Law," named after a 16-year-old fatally stabbed with such a weapon in 2022.

Alongside the amnesty, the government has also deployed a dedicated police taskforce focused on the seven highest-risk areas, which accounted for 70% of knife-enabled robberies in the year leading up to June 2024. Tactics include using drones, knife arches, and detection dogs, as well as increasing visible patrols and plain-clothes officers. This has led to a 6% overall annual reduction in knife-enabled robberies, with the West Midlands seeing the largest drop at 25%.

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