Children are increasingly engaging in online commerce to sell knives, mirroring the way they trade clothing, according to the policing and crime minister.
During the inauguration of the National Knife Crime Centre (NKCC) in Bloomsbury, central London, Sarah Jones revealed that children as young as 12 are involved in the buying and selling of knives over the internet.
Among those present was Nikita Kanda, whose 16-year-old brother Ronan was fatally stabbed in 2022 with a ninja sword purchased online, just a short distance from their home in Wolverhampton.
Jones emphasized that knife crime continues to have a „devastating“ impact on children who are being exploited. She noted that young individuals are being „encouraged“ to profit within a criminal environment. In fact, a recent case highlighted this issue: a 13-year-old boy was arrested over a viral trend that is spreading across the UK.
„Criminals have come into that and gone ‚OK, you can do this by buying and selling knives,'“ Jones stated. „And so we [the government] have to be on top of that, and we have to come down very hard on that.“
At the event, Kanda stressed the importance of addressing the online sale of dangerous weapons to minors. She remarked, „We know young people have been targeted online, and that means weapons are not harmless objects. They are being used to enable, inflict and escalate violence, and that is why decisive action is so important.“
Ministers are currently evaluating feedback from a consultation regarding the potential implementation of a licensing system for sellers and importers of knives and bladed items, aiming to reduce knife crime by half over the next decade.
„It is too easy to be able to buy and sell and receive knives in this country, and we need to keep pushing to do more,“ Jones added.
The newly established NKCC, funded by the government, is designed to assist police forces in identifying and addressing offenders who sell offensive weapons online, often referred to as the „grey market.“
However, any new legislation must also consider individuals who utilize knives for legitimate purposes, such as martial arts.
„The question is: what can we do to stop the illegal sale, what can we do to stop harm and what can we do to stop knives being used on our streets?“ Jones queried.
Accountability in Knife Sales
The Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently in its final stages in parliament, aims to enhance authorities‘ efforts to combat knife crime, anti-social behavior, violence against women and girls, shoplifting, and child abuse.
Kanda expressed understanding for those purchasing knives for legitimate reasons, such as martial arts. However, she advocated for accountability measures.
„We totally get that people can be buying these [knives] for legitimate purposes, like the minister said, martial arts. But, we also would like these people who are buying knives for martial arts to be licensed, so that they hold accountability and responsibility for what they’re buying,“ Kanda stated.
As discussions continue, the focus remains on finding effective solutions to curb the illegal sale of knives and protect vulnerable youth from exploitation.
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Bildquelle: Foto von Oliver Hale auf Unsplash
