MP Warns About Teens Using Online Platforms to Sell Knives

At the inauguration of the National Knife Crime Centre (NKCC) in Bloomsbury, London, the policing and crime minister, Sarah Jones, highlighted how children are creating online ventures to trade knives, much like they do with apparel. She noted that youth as young as 12 are engaging in buying and selling blades through digital channels. One individual she conversed with was Nikita Kanda, who recounted how her 16-year-old sibling was fatally attacked with a ninja sword acquired online, just a short distance from their Wolverhampton residence.

Jones emphasized that knife violence continues to victimize young people, often pulling them into criminal exploitation. She described how young individuals are being incentivized to profit within a criminal environment, with criminals capitalizing on the ease of knife transactions. “We must stay vigilant and take decisive measures against this trend,” she stated. The new government-funded NKCC aims to assist law enforcement in tracing and addressing online sellers of aggressive weapons, commonly dubbed the “grey market.”

“We understand that knives are used for valid purposes, such as martial arts, but we believe those individuals should also be licensed to ensure accountability,” Kanda added.

Ministers are evaluating responses to a consultation on implementing a licensing framework for knife sellers and importers, aiming to cut knife-related offenses by half within a decade. Jones stressed the need to simplify processes for halting illegal knife sales, reducing harm, and preventing their use in street violence. The Crime and Policing Bill, currently in its final parliamentary phase, is intended to strengthen efforts against knife crime, anti-social conduct, violence toward women and girls, theft, and child abuse.

Kanda reiterated the importance of addressing online weapon sales to teenagers, calling for decisive action to curb their misuse. “Weapons are no longer just tools; they’re instruments of violence,” she said. “We need to ensure they’re not being exploited to escalate danger in our communities.” The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to tackling this issue while balancing legitimate needs, such as hobbyist or sports-related knife use.

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