Wolverhampton MP and Home Secretary visit police in Bilston ahead of knife sale crackdown

The government members were in the area on February 18 to learn more about their approach to Neighbourhood Policing and tackling anti-social behaviour ahead of the Home Office implementing new measures to tackle the sale of knives online. 

The new restrictions will collectively will be known as 'Ronan's Law', in memory of Ronan Kanda who was murdered close to his Wolverhampton home after he visited a friend's house to buy a PlayStation controller in June 2022.

Ronan's mother Pooja and sister Nikita campaigned for legal changes following his death. Pooja believes the law will "make a key difference to many and although it cannot save our beautiful boy, we know that it can, and will, save the lives of many others.”

Following the announcement of Ronan's Law this morning (February 19), Pooja said: “In 2022, I lost my son, Ronan, to knife crime and mistaken identity. In 2023, we sat in the courtroom where we were shown a Ninja sword and 25+ bladed articles. Looking at them, I knew my son didn’t stand a chance. 

"Without proper ID checks, the online sale of these bladed articles played a crucial role in this tragedy. How was this allowed? A 16-year-old managed to get these weapons online and sold these weapons to other people.  

"I knew we could not go on like this, and our fight for what was right had begun. Proper ID checks by sellers, as well as postal and delivery services, played a crucial role.

“We welcome the government’s plans to tackle the online sale of these weapons. Retailers, social media, and sellers need to take on more responsibilities. 

"We welcome the proposal of a registration scheme, where the government will continue to implement stricter measures on the online sale of bladed articles. We have so much work to tackle knife crime; this is a much-needed beginning. 

"This part of Ronan’s law will provide much-needed barriers against knife crime. I wish this was done years ago, and my son would be with me today.”

The measures include plans to create an offence of possessing a weapon with intent for violence. Currently a similar offence exists for someone found in possession of a gun, but not a knife.

It will also also include an ‘end-to-end review’ of online knife sales along with deeper enforcement of ID checks and a new national police unit to tackle online knife sales will also be piloted.

Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFaddwn said: "Ronan Kanda was my constituent and I am pleased that the Government is bringing in Ronan's law in his name. 

"Knife crime is a huge problem for the country and more must be done to try to bring it down. These new measures will mean tougher rules on online knife sales, proper ID checks, and soon a ban on the online sale of the kind of weapon used to kill Ronan. 

"Ronan's mum Pooja and his sister Nikita have campaigned for these measures with great courage. They are working as hard as they can to make sure other families do not have to face the grief they carry every day."  

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “It is horrifying how easy it is for young people to get hold of knives online even though children’s lives are being lost, and families and communities are left devastated as a result.

“Not enough has been done to tackle the online market over recent years which is why we made it an urgent priority in our manifesto and the measures today will be underpinned by investment for a new dedicated police unit to go after those who are breaking the law and putting children and teenagers lives at risk.

“We are honouring our commitment to introduce Ronan’s Law in memory of Ronan Kanda who was tragically killed in 2022. I am so grateful to the Kanda family for their endless perseverance in ensuring governments take the right actions to protect young people from further tragedy.

“This government has set an ambitious mission for the country to halve knife crime over the next decade and we will pursue every possible avenue to save young lives.”

However, the proposals do not include measures, highlighted by actor and anti-knife crime campaigner Idris Elba, for a ban on pointed ends on kitchen knives. 

A consultation will be held later in the year on whether online retailers should have to register in order to be able to sell knives.