Chef Knives, Olaf Simons, under Creative Commons Licence
The Times has reported today that online retailers selling kitchen knives will soon be required to implement more stringent age verification measures, following government concerns over lax security in purchasing dangerous blades. The new regulations mandate a two-step verification process and require sellers to report bulk purchases to curb illegal distribution.
A recent government review found significant gaps in age and delivery verification standards, leading to increased access to knives by minors. The Home Office aims to close these “lethal loopholes” with stricter requirements for online sales.
In addition to the enhanced verification process, retailers may soon be required to register under a licensing scheme to ensure that only responsible sellers can legally distribute knives. Any individual or company found selling knives to under-18s could face up to two years in prison. A new offense—possessing an offensive weapon with intent for violence—will carry a maximum prison sentence of four years.
Commander Stephen Clayman, lead for knife crime at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, emphasized the importance of tackling the supply chain. “It’s currently easier to buy a knife online than it is to purchase paracetamol. That must change,” he said. Law enforcement agencies are working with major tech companies, including TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta, to remove content promoting illegal knife sales.
To enforce these new measures, a dedicated police unit with £1 million in funding will focus on tracking and preventing online knife sales to minors. The initiative is named “Ronan’s Law” in memory of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was fatally stabbed in 2022 by a teenager who had purchased multiple knives online without age verification.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed the urgency of these reforms, stating, “The online knife market has not been properly regulated for too long. This new unit will ensure the law is upheld and protect young people from harm.”
Since returning to power, the Labour government has committed to reducing knife crime by 50% within the next decade. These new measures mark a significant step in their broader strategy to combat youth violence and illegal knife distribution.