UK PM bans ‘ninja swords’

The new law came into effect on Friday in response to a rise in knife attacks and mounting public pressure

Ninja swords are now banned in England and Wales under new laws that came into effect on Friday, the UK Home Office has confirmed. Possessing one in public could lead to a prison sentence of up to four years.

The change is part of a wider government effort to curb knife violence. Over 1,000 weapons were surrendered in July during a month-long amnesty campaign aimed at removing dangerous items from the streets, according to the Home Office.

The ban follows a series of fatal knife attacks that have shocked the nation. In 2024, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana killed three girls and injured 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed children’s recital in Southport.

The attack reignited public anger and led ministers to promise tougher rules on online weapon sales, stronger age checks, and bans on certain bladed items such as zombie knives and machetes.

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In 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said knife crime was at epidemic levels and promised to crack down on lethal weapons. He later confirmed ninja swords would be banned and said the government would deliver on its promises.

The new law is part of “Ronan’s Law,” named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was killed in 2022 with a ninja sword. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said the ban will help reduce the presence of these weapons, especially in gang-related violence.

The APCC also stated that it aims to explore why people carry knives and how to prevent it, adding that the ban gives police extra powers to seize such weapons and protect communities.

Possessing a ninja sword at home carries a penalty of up to six months in prison, but that could rise to two years under a new Crime and Policing Bill currently being considered by Parliament.

Knife crime in England and Wales has increased 87% over the past decade, according to official data issued by Britain’s interior ministry and the Home Office.  In the last year alone, almost 55,000 knife-related incidents were reported, a 2% rise from 2023.