Labour promises knife crime crackdown with ‘comprehensive’ ban
Sir Keir Starmer hit out at the Conservative Government over a delay in bringing forward a promised ban on zombie-style knives.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour would oversee a “total crackdown” on the availability of knives on British streets, promising a comprehensive ban to tackle knife crime.
The Labour leader hit out at ministers’ delay in bringing forward a promised ban on zombie-style knives, pledging to instead extend the ban to a wider range of weapons and toughen current rules on serration and length.
The Government put forward plans to ban some zombie-style knives in August last year, but it has yet to be implemented.
An announcement on legislation to enforce the ban is expected shortly.
Sir Keir said the Conservatives are “letting a generation down” by failing to fulfil “grand promises of action”.
Labour said it would target the sale of dangerous knives online, with rambo knives, swords and machetes among the weapons too easily available at the moment.
It said it would close current loopholes by making any online site indirectly selling knives criminally liable for sales.
Sir Keir said: “The number of these deadly weapons on Britain’s streets is terrifying, and unacceptable.
“For years, the Tories have made grand promises of action, but by failing to bring a proper ban on these killer knives and to crack down on online sales to kids, they’re letting a generation down.
“The tragic cost is being felt by too many. Young people are being killed or maimed, and communities are blighted by fear.
“Labour will act. There will be nothing short of a ban by my Labour government. And we won’t stop there – we’ll crack down on online sales, too. No child should be able to buy a deadly weapon as easily as they can online today.”
The party, if it wins the next general election, said it would carry out an end-to-end review of online knife sales from the point of purchase to delivery.
This would include a review of the effectiveness of ID checks and verification measures, including checks conducted by Royal Mail and Border Force.