Doorstep deliveries of knives bought online are set to be banned in the UK, following a government crackdown aimed at preventing tragedies like the Southport killings carried out by Axel Rudakubana. Rudakubana exploited an online loophole to purchase knives despite being under 18.
The new measures will prohibit tech companies, including Amazon, from handing over knives to anyone other than the individual who placed the order. This will allow delivery personnel to verify the buyer’s ID and age directly during delivery. This third verification step will supplement the two-stage online purchase process, which already requires ID, such as a passport, and a video “selfie” to confirm identity.
These measures are part of a broader effort to enforce the ban on selling knives with blades over three inches to minors, a law that carries up to six months in jail for violators. Rudakubana circumvented these safeguards by using software to hide his identity and address. The knives he ordered were delivered to an adult, reportedly one of his parents, who showed ID to receive the parcel.
Under the proposed changes, only the buyer will be allowed to accept the delivery, ensuring stricter ID checks. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the ease with which children still acquire dangerous weapons online, describing it as a “disgrace.” She stated, “Too many retailers don’t have proper checks in place. It’s too easy to enter false birth dates, and parcels are too often left at doorsteps without questions.”
The government’s plan also includes penalties for social media companies that fail to remove knife-related content inciting violence. Executives could face fines of up to £10,000 for failing to act within 48 hours to remove such material, which includes content promoting banned weapons like zombie knives, ninja swords, and machetes. However, there is no indication the the same measure will be applicable to coner shop or retails store that sell knifes across the country
The measures form part of the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, which will also strengthen police powers to demand the swift removal of knife-related content from platforms. Commander Stephen Clayman, the national police lead on knife crime, recommended the stricter ID checks following a review requested by the Home Secretary.
The urgency for these changes is underscored by alarming statistics: knife crimes in England and Wales exceeded 50,000 incidents in the year ending June 2024, with London alone recording 15,859 cases—a 16% increase from 2023. Despite these figures, prosecutions for underage knife sales have dropped sharply, with just eight cases in 2024, compared to 64 in 2020.
Yvette Cooper emphasized the importance of these reforms, saying, “We cannot go on like this. Stronger checks and penalties are crucial to making our streets safer and ensuring retailers take responsibility.” The government’s comprehensive approach aims to address both the online sale of knives and the broader cultural factors contributing to knife crime in the UK.
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