UK ninja sword ban begins as 1,000 weapons surrendered in knife crime crackdown

LONDON: At least 1,000 weapons have been surrendered under a British government amnesty launched last month to combat knife crime, the interior ministry announced on Friday, as a new ban on ninja swords came into effect.

Overall, knife crime in England and Wales has risen 87% over the past decade, with 54,587 offences recorded last year alone, a 2% rise from 2023 and among the highest rates in Europe. On July 29, 2024, teenager Axel Rudakubana attacked a Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance event in the northern English town of Southport, killing three girls and stabbing 10 people in one of Britain’s most harrowing knife assaults.

Since then, the government has pledged tougher age checks for knife buyers, warned social media firms they could face fines for failing to curb sales and promotion of weapons, and banned zombie-style knives, machetes and ninja swords.

Over the month of July this year, the government urged young people to drop off weapons, including bladed ones, at “amnesty” bins or a mobile van -- part of efforts to control knife crime, particularly when it involves youths. The government said at least 1,000 weapons have been handed in.

It is unclear whether the “amnesty” bins will stay in place once the month-long campaign comes to an end.