UK to ban ninja swords amid knife crime ‘crisis’

LONDON: Possessing a ninja sword is to be banned in the UK and carry a penalty of up to six months in jail, the British government said on Thursday, in a bid to curb what it has called a “national” knife crime “crisis”. The Home Office said most ninja swords had a blade of between 14 and 24 inches, with one straight cutting edge and a tanto style -- or sharply-angled -- tip. From August 1, anyone caught in possession of a ninja sword in private could face six months in prison. That is set to rise to two years under forthcoming legislation.