Ninja swords are now banned in England and Wales under new legislation that came into force on Friday, the UK Home Office has confirmed, as the government responds to a rise in knife attacks and mounting public pressure.
Possessing a ninja sword in public could now result in a prison sentence of up to four years. The move forms part of a wider government effort to tackle knife violence.
According to the Home Office, over 1,000 weapons were surrendered in July during a month-long amnesty campaign aimed at removing dangerous items from the streets.
The ban follows a series of fatal knife attacks that have shocked the nation. In 2024, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana killed three girls and injured 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed children’s recital in Southport.
The attack reignited public anger and led ministers to promise tougher rules on online weapon sales, stronger age verification checks, and bans on certain bladed items such as zombie knives and machetes.
In 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said knife crime was at epidemic levels and pledged to crack down on lethal weapons. He later confirmed ninja swords would be banned and said the government would deliver on its promises.
The new law forms part of “Ronan’s Law”, named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was killed in 2022 with a ninja sword. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said the ban will help reduce the presence of such weapons, particularly in gang-related violence.
The APCC also said it aims to explore why people carry knives and how to prevent it, adding that the ban gives police additional powers to seize these weapons and protect communities.
Possessing a ninja sword at home carries a penalty of up to six months in prison, but that could increase to two years under a new Crime and Policing Bill currently under consideration in Parliament.
Knife crime in England and Wales has risen by 87 pc over the past decade, according to official figures from Britain’s interior ministry and the Home Office. In the past year alone, nearly 55,000 knife-related incidents were reported, marking a 2 pc increase from 2023.
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