Nearly 60,000 knives have been removed from public circulation since July of last year, according to the most recent data available. Advocates have hailed this as a significant accomplishment, with government officials affirming their commitment to cutting knife-related crimes in half over the next ten years.
Recent statistics from the Home Office reveal that 7,512 knives and weapons were voluntarily surrendered during a summer initiative, in addition to 47,795 zombie knives and machetes turned in the previous year. Border Force authorities confiscated 3,334 knives, and law enforcement operations under the County Lines Programme led to the recovery of 618 blades.
Sandra Campbell, the leader of Word 4 Weapons campaign group, emphasized the importance of each weapon surrendered, stating that it represents a potential tragedy averted in our communities. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed concern over the loss of young lives due to knife crimes and reiterated the government’s determination to combat this issue relentlessly.
The effort to reduce knife-related crimes has shown progress, with a 5% decrease in such offenses reported in the past year. Incidents of knife homicides also decreased by 18% during the same period. The Ben Kinsella Trust CEO, Patrick Green, praised the recent data, particularly highlighting the removal of dangerous weapons like ninja swords as a crucial step towards enhancing street safety and protecting young individuals from violence.
Faron Paul, founder of FazAmnesty, a campaign focused on reducing knife crimes through community initiatives, lauded the collaborative efforts that led to the removal of thousands of weapons from the streets. He expressed confidence in achieving a 50% reduction in knife crimes within the next decade.
In a move to address the issue, a ban on ninja swords, known as Ronan’s Law in memory of a murdered teenager, was enforced on August 1. The government set up surrender bins and mobile bans ahead of the law’s implementation in London, Manchester, and the West Midlands. Ronan’s mother, Pooja, acknowledged the positive changes occurring in memory of her son and praised the government for taking concrete steps to promote safety.
Proposed measures in the Crime and Policing Bill, currently under parliamentary review, aim to strengthen age verification processes for online knife sales and delivery. Additionally, tech industry leaders will face stringent penalties for hosting illegal knife-related content online.