Stricter age-verification checks mandated for all knife retailers
Stricter age verification checks are to be introduced on knife sales to protect young people from knife crime and prevent bladed weapons getting into the wrong hands.
A ban on ‘doorstep drops’ of packages containing a bladed weapon will also be introduced as part of the Government’s “ambitious mission” to halve knife crime within a decade.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was “a total disgrace” how easy it is for children to buy dangerous weapons online.
A stringent two-step system will be mandated for all retailers selling knives online requiring customers to submit photo ID at point of sale and again on delivery. In addition, delivery companies will only be able to deliver a bladed article to the same person who purchased it.
Under the new measures a person may need to submit a copy of a photo ID such as driver’s licence or passport, as well as proof of address such as a utility bill, before showing ID again when the package is delivered. This could also include a person submitting a current photo or video of themselves to an online retailer alongside their ID.
It will also be illegal to leave a package containing a bladed weapon on a doorstep when no one is in to receive it.
Ms Cooper said: “It’s a total disgrace how easy it still is for children to get dangerous weapons online.
“More than two years after Ronan Kanda was killed with a ninja sword bought by a teenager online, too many retailers still don’t have proper checks in place.
“It’s too easy to put in false birth dates, parcels are too often being dropped off at a doorstop with no questions asked.
“We cannot go on like this. We need much stronger checks – before you buy, before it’s delivered.
“The measures I am setting out today will be crucial in addressing this problem and are part of our Plan for Change and mission to make streets safer.”
Last year the Home Secretary commissioned Commander Stephen Clayman, the national police lead on knife crime, to carry out a full review into the online sale and delivery of knives.
The full report is expected at the end of the month and stronger ID checks are one of the recommendations.
The Home Office said: “We have also already announced that we will hold social media executives to account for knife crime related content which glorifies and incites violence amongst young people.
“Senior execs of social media companies will face significant fines in the region of £10,000 for failing to swiftly remove knife crime related content from their platforms.”
The measures are set to be included as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, which is expected to be introduced to Parliament by spring.