The United Kingdom has ushered in a sweeping crackdown on knife crime by officially banning the possession, sale, manufacture, and import of ninja swords in England and Wales as of 1 August 2025, marking the enforcement of the final stage of the legislation known as Ronan’s Law, and accompanied by an unprecedented national surrender and compensation scheme.
During the 31‑day surrender window from 1 to 31 July 2025, at least 1,000 illegal weapons, including ninja swords, were handed in through designated police stations, mobile collection vans, and amnesty bins targeted toward young people across high‑risk areas. These efforts form part of a broader initiative to halve knife crime within a decade under the government’s Safer Streets Mission.
Ronan’s Law, named in memory of 16‑year‑old Ronan Kanda, who was murdered in June 2022 with a ninja sword, expands existing bans on zombie‑style knives and machetes and imposes new criminal penalties: up to six months’ imprisonment for private possession, rising to two years under forthcoming provisions in the Crime and Policing Bill.
Eligibility for compensation applies only to individuals who lawfully possessed or had contracted to acquire ninja swords on or before 27 March 2025, the cut‑off date when legislation was laid before Parliament. Owners must provide purchase receipts or other proof; compensation starts at £5 per weapon, with higher amounts available if value is documented. Anonymous disposal via amnesty bins remains an option even without claiming compensation.
Knife crime in England and Wales has increased by 87% over the past decade, with 54,587 offences recorded in the past year alone—among the highest rates in Europe. High‑profile incidents such as the July 2024 attack in Southport, where teenage assailant Axel Rudakubana killed three girls and injured ten at a children’s dance event, underscored public alarm and spurred policy action.
Experts and charities have cautiously welcomed the measures while warning they do not address underlying social drivers of violence. Observers emphasise the need for broader interventions targeting youth vulnerability, emotional trauma, and access to training and support.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper framed the ban as part of urgent efforts to confront knife violence, describing Ronan’s death as a catalyst for change and highlighting other measures within Ronan’s Law: mandatory reporting of suspicious bulk knife sales, tougher scrutiny of online sales, fines for social media companies promoting weapon content, and expanded use of facial recognition technology at major public events like the Notting Hill Carnival. She also affirmed the government’s cross‑Whitehall mission to provide early intervention support for young people and restore neighbourhood policing, including 3,000 extra officers deployed across communities.
Early results suggest some impact: knife‑related robberies in the seven highest‑risk police areas dropped from 14% to 6% of total robberies in the year ending June 2025, compared to the previous period to June 2024.
As of 1 August 2025, ownership of ninja swords without a legal defence is a criminal offence. Exemptions may include items over 100 years old, use in theatrical performances, education, historical reenactment, or possession by religious institutions, though these carry strict evidentiary burdens. Authorities will monitor the policy’s impact through crime trends, feedback from frontline agencies, and periodic reviews of enforcement and business effects.
In summary, the ban on ninja swords, backed by mass weapon surrender and compensation arrangements, marks a high‑profile escalation in the UK’s fight against knife crime—a campaign shaped by tragedy but seeking results through legislation, enforcement, and social intervention.
