News / knife crime
Police recover 30 ninja swords ahead of ban
It has been a criminal offence to own a ninja sword, a straight 14 to 24 inch blade with a tanto or reversed tanto style point, since Friday.
This ban came after the murder of a teenager, Ronan Kanda, in Wolverhampton in 2022, who was stabbed by other teenagers with knives they had bought over the internet and collected from their local post office.
Following his death, campaigners lobbied for a ban on the possession, manufacture, import or sale of ninja swords.
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The government has since added ninja swords to the list of prohibited offensive weapons found under section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Now, if someone is found in possession of a ninja sword they could face six months or up to two years in prison.
However, before the change in law came to effect on Friday, the Home Office initiated a nationwide amnesty for anyone who had bought or obtained a ninja sword before their cut of date of March 27.
From July 1 – July 31, people across the England and Wales were encouraged to hand ninja swords into their local police station.
hose surrendering their knives were able to claim compensation, with a standard compensation rate of £5.
In Bristol, swords were collected at Keynsham, Broadbury, Patchway and Bridewell police stations.
30 swords were collected in total.
Chief Inspector Mike Vass, the knife crime lead at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “The 30 ninja swords we received in July are 30 potentially deadly weapons removed from our communities, and another positive step towards making our streets safer.
“I’m thankful to the law-abiding members of the public who did the right thing by surrendering their property safely.
“Many people who own ninja swords don’t have criminal intent and, until this moment, owners may have had them stored at home as a collector’s item. But when these weapons fall into the wrong hands, they can have fatal and life-changing consequences.
“The ban introduced today will act as a deterrent to some, yet tackling knife crime will not be achieved through enforcement and deterrence alone. It requires a holistic approach, focusing on the root causes of knife carrying and prioritising education, prevention and support to address this behaviour.
“We continue to work closely with partner agencies to ensure appropriate diversion and safeguarding interventions are put in place for those identified as at risk of serious violence.”
Main photo: Milan Perera
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