Bedfordshire Police welcomes Ronan’s Law for stricter rules on online knife sales

Bedfordshire police welcomes ronan’s law for stricter rules on online knife sales

Bedfordshire police have welcomed the introduction of ‘Ronan’s Law’, a new set of measures designed to crack down on the online sale of knives and other offensive weapons. The law, named in memory of 16-year-old ronan kanda, who was fatally stabbed in a case of mistaken identity, introduces tougher penalties and stricter regulations to prevent dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

The new legislation will require sellers to report any bulk or suspicious purchases of knives to the police, aiming to prevent illegal resales via social media. Additionally, the penalty for selling bladed weapons to under-18s will increase significantly—from six months to up to two years in prison. This harsher sentence could apply to the individual who processed the sale or even the company’s CEO, reinforcing the responsibility of businesses in tackling knife crime.

Detective Inspector Scott Fowler, from bedfordshire Police’s boson guns and gangs unit, praised the law, stating: “The legislation is clear—whether you’re a shop assistant or the CEO of a company selling bladed articles, you will face prosecution if you fail to do everything in your power to prevent them from being used to cause harm. Our message remains the same across the county: we do not tolerate knife crime in Bedfordshire. It’s time to think twice, think life, and Just drop It.”

This change will also apply to the sale and supply of prohibited offensive weapons, such as zombie-style knives, which have been increasingly linked to violent incidents. The Crime and Policing Bill, under which Ronan’s Law is introduced, will also criminalise possessing an offensive weapon with intent for violence, regardless of whether the weapon is legally owned or not.

A crucial step in combatting knife crime

Bedfordshire police and crime commissioner, John Tizard, described Ronan’s Law as the “toughest crackdown yet” on online knife sales. “The government’s announcement to introduce Ronan’s Law is very welcome. It should form part of a wider package of new legislation and measures to crack down on the supply of weapons,” he said.

The law follows extensive campaigning by Ronan’s mother, Pooja Kanda, who has worked tirelessly to highlight the dangers of unregulated online knife sales. Speaking about the tragedy that took her son’s life, she said: “In 2022, I lost my son, Ronan, to knife crime and mistaken identity. In 2023, we sat in the courtroom where we were shown a ninja sword and 25+ bladed articles. Looking at them, I knew my son didn’t stand a chance. Without proper ID checks, the online sale of these bladed articles played a crucial role in this tragedy.”

She continued: “Retailers, social media, and sellers need to take on more responsibilities. We welcome the proposal of a registration scheme, where the government will continue to implement stricter measures on the online sale of bladed articles. We have so much work to tackle knife crime; this is a much-needed beginning.”

Ronan’s killers, both teenagers, had illegally purchased lethal weapons online and collected them from the post office without undergoing any age verification checks. One of them had managed to buy over 20 knives, even using his mother’s ID to do so.

A multi-faceted approach to knife crime

Detective Inspector Fowler emphasised that tackling knife crime requires a combination of enforcement and prevention. “With the introduction of Ronan’s Law, we can now elevate our efforts and hold accountable those who make lethal weapons easily accessible to criminals. This enhancement of police powers and tactics will undoubtedly have a positive impact on our ability to address knife crime and ensure public safety,” he stated.

Bedfordshire has witnessed numerous incidents of knife-related crime, particularly in Luton and Bedford, with the police force’s gangs unit working extensively to combat the issue. The new measures under Ronan’s Law are expected to significantly strengthen the legal framework, ensuring that those who facilitate the sale of dangerous weapons are held to account.

With this legislation in place, authorities hope to prevent further tragedies like Ronan’s and create a safer future for communities across the country.