Retailers will be required to report suspicious or bulk purchases of knives, and those caught selling blades to under-18s will face tougher sentences under a new raft of measures to clamp down on young people’s access to weapons labelled Ronan’s law.
Metropolitan police commander Stephen Clayman, the national lead for knife crime who led the review, said: “I could go to a legitimate dealer and buy 300 knives, and the dealer has no obligation to tell police that someone’s just bought that, or the fact I bought five knives each week for the last 10 weeks.
The government said it is also piloting a dedicated new central police unit, with £1m funding, to tackle the issue, and in spring it will launch a consultation on whether a registration scheme should be put in place for all online retailers selling knives.
The government has already announced that a new two-step system will be mandated for retailers selling knives online, meaning customers will have to submit photo ID at the point of sale and again on delivery.
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “It is horrifying how easy it is for young people to get hold of knives online even though children’s lives are being lost, and families and communities are left devastated as a result.”.
