Government’s month-long amnesty sees major public response as part of wider anti-violence initiative.
In a decisive move to clamp down on knife-related violence, the UK has enforced a new ban on ninja swords, with more than 1,000 weapons surrendered through a government-backed amnesty that began last month.
The ban, which officially took effect this week, forms part of a broader crackdown on bladed weapons following a surge in knife-related offences across England and Wales.
More than 1,000 blades have been dropped into amnesty bins over July – a visible sign that communities are responding to the call for action against knife crime.
Knife crime has soared by a staggering 87% over the past ten years. In 2024 alone, 54,587 incidents were recorded — a 2% rise from the previous year, cementing the UK’s position among the highest in Europe for such offences.
The government’s action has taken on a renewed urgency in light of the tragic attack in Southport on 29 July, where teenager Axel Rudakubana fatally stabbed three young girls and injured ten others at a Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance event.
Since then, ministers have introduced tighter age checks for knife sales, threatened penalties for social media platforms promoting weapons, and outlawed dangerous blades, including zombie-style knives, machetes, and now ninja swords.
Throughout July, young people were encouraged to discard blades and other dangerous items in designated “amnesty” bins or a mobile weapons surrender van. Authorities have confirmed that over 1,000 weapons were collected during the campaign.
In a continued show of vigilance, the mobile van will be stationed at this month’s Notting Hill Carnival in London, in response to past incidents involving knife violence at the event.
However, it’s still uncertain whether the amnesty bins will remain beyond the campaign’s conclusion.
Charities and crime prevention experts have welcomed the ban and surrender drive as progress, though many stress the importance of addressing the deeper causes of knife violence, particularly among youth.
The Home Office has reported positive developments in the country’s most at-risk areas. Knife-enabled robberies have dropped sharply in seven targeted zones, from 14% of all robberies in these areas (ending June 2024) to just 6% (ending June 2025).
This decline comes as part of the government’s rollout of Ronan’s Law, named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was tragically killed in 2022 by a ninja sword.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Since day one, we have acted with urgency to turn the tide on knife crime, which destroys lives and devastates communities.” She credited the 6% annual fall in knife-enabled robberies to focused police strategies.
Targeted Policing and New Tactics
A specialist police taskforce established last October has been working across seven forces: the Metropolitan Police, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Avon and Somerset, and British Transport Police.
These regions previously accounted for 70% of all knife-enabled robberies between July 2023 and June 2024.
Efforts include:
- Use of drones and knife detection arches
- Deployment of sniffer dogs
- Increased uniformed patrols
- Boosted the number of plain clothes officers
Among the targeted regions, the West Midlands experienced the most dramatic improvement, with a 25% reduction in knife-related incidents. Greater Manchester, however, saw a 4% uptick, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance.
While the new measures, including the ninja sword ban, show promising results, many argue they are only part of the solution. Campaigners continue to push for more community-led programmes, mental health interventions, and education for young people to prevent future tragedies.
Still, as authorities sharpen their focus and communities rally in support, there’s cautious optimism that the tide of knife crime in Britain can indeed be turned.
