On Thursday, March 27, the UK government announced plans to ban ninja swords, making it a criminal offense to possess one, as part of the country’s efforts to address the growing knife crime “crisis.”
Starting August 1, anyone caught with a ninja sword in private could face up to six months in prison, with penalties set to increase to two years under new legislation.
The UK Home Office explained that most ninja swords have a blade ranging from 14 to 24 inches long, with one straight cutting edge and a sharply-angled tanto-style tip. The ban is the final step in a series of measures under the “Ronan’s Law,” introduced as part of the government’s crime and policing bill. This law aims to reduce knife violence by making it illegal to sell weapons to children, reporting bulk knife sales to the police, and increasing jail terms for those involved in knife crime.
The legislation is named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who tragically lost his life in 2022 when he was stabbed with a ninja sword by two teenagers in a case of mistaken identity. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated, “Knife crime is destroying young lives, and it is far too easy for teenagers to get hold of dangerous weapons,” adding, “We are introducing the final part of Ronan’s law in his memory.”
The ninja sword ban follows a previous ban on “zombie” knives and machetes, which was introduced in September 2024. These knives, with serrated edges often used by gangs, and those with blades longer than eight inches, were also made illegal.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described knife crime as a “national crisis,” and the government has vowed to tackle it head-on. In July, ahead of the ninja sword ban, there will be a month-long surrender scheme where people can hand in weapons without facing charges.
The rise in knife crime in England and Wales has been alarming. According to government data, offences involving a sharp instrument have increased by 41% since 2011, with nearly 51,000 such crimes reported in 2024. The number of teenage deaths due to stabbings remains high, with 10 teenagers killed in London last year alone.
The new measures are a strong step toward curbing knife violence and protecting young people from the devastating impact of these dangerous weapons.
