Stricter laws on knife sales to be introduced

As part of a greater plan to protect young people from knife crime, stricter age verification checks and a ban on doorstep drops will be introduced on the sale of knives.
A two-step system is set to be introduced for all online retailers selling knives, which will require showing a photo ID at the point of sale and again when the knife is being delivered. Delivery drivers will also only be able to deliver a bladed article to the same person who purchased it.
It will also be illegal to leave a package containing a bladed weapon on a doorstep when no one is in to receive it properly.
This comes part of the government’s ambitious plan to halve knife crime within a decade as part of the Plan for change and a core element of this will be enforcing stricter sales protocols for online retailers.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “It’s a total disgrace how easy it still is for children to get dangerous weapons online.
“More than two years after Ronan Kanda was killed with a ninja sword bought by a teenager online, too many retailers still don’t have proper checks in place.
“It’s too easy to put in false birth dates, parcels are too often being dropped off at a doorstop with on questions asked.
“We cannot go on like this. We need much stronger checks — before you buy, before it’s delivered.
“The measures I am setting out today will be crucial in addressing this problem and are part of our Plan for Change and mission to make streets safer.”
The measures announced today are set to be part of the Crime and Policy Bill, which is expected to be introduced to Parliament by spring, with more m measures being set forth in the coming weeks.
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