The Government has long promised to ban zombie knives and machetes in its Criminal Justice Bill, which is currently going through Parliament – but campaigners say the legislation is full of holes
Labour vowed yesterday to move swiftly to outlaw the type of blade used to kill schoolboy Daniel Anjorin as his grieving parents paid tribute to their “precious” boy and described the tragedy as “unthinkable”.
A man wielding a samurai sword randomly attacked people in north-east London on Tuesday, killing Daniel, 14, while he walked to school. Last night, parents Ebenezer, 59, and Grace, 49, said in a statement: “We as a family are devastated… our children have lost their loving and precious brother and we have lost the most loved and amazing son.”
The Government has long promised to ban zombie knives and machetes in its Criminal Justice Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. But campaigners say the legislation is full of holes – such as failing to include Samurai and ninja swords among prohibited weapons.
Now, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is tabling an amendment to close the loophole and slap tough penalties on retailers flouting the law. She told us: “Despite the Tories promising at least 16 times to take action, the plan still contains gaping loopholes which make it legal to purchase knives like samurai swords and ninja swords. I’m calling on the Government and MPs from all parties to back Labour’s amendment.”
Zombie knives were first added to the Government’s list of banned offensive weapons in 2016 but loopholes allowed the sale of the knives online. Officers have been unable to seize knives which got around the 2016 definition by not having “images or words…that suggest it is to be used for purposes of violence”.
Four successive Home Secretaries vowed to close the loopholes, before Suella Braverman ’s pledge to update the law last August. And it took until January this year for her successor, James Cleverly, to get the change in the regulations through Parliament. The Tories’ blade crackdown, now due to come in on September 24, has been slammed as too little, too late – especially following a number of high-profile tragedies involving swords. They include the murder of Ronan Kanda, 16, with a 22-inch ninja sword in Wolverhampton in 2022.
The blade was bought online and collected from a post office by one of his schoolboy killers. Welcoming Labour’s intervention, Ronan’s mother Pooja said the loopholes rendered “the whole legislation futile”. She said: “We urge the Government to include swords and also bring forward the legislation. It’s heartbreaking to see another life lost.
Explanation
“Unfortunately, that sword, as well as many other dangerous variations, are still available for purchase. Even after our petition received over 10,000 signatures, the Government has yet to provide a reasonable explanation for why ninja swords were not included in the legislation. The perpetrator of my son Ronan’s murder had over 25 dangerous blades that he bought online. It was easy then and unfortunately it is easy now. I will continue to advocate for the prohibition of swords because what happened to my son and other children should not have occurred.”
Her pleas were backed by the Ben Kinsella Trust, set up after the 16-year-old was knifed to death in North London in 2008. Chief executive Patrick Green said: “While the ban on machetes and zombie knives is a positive step, the recent tragedy demonstrates a critical gap. Ninja and other plain bladed swords should be included. We cannot afford to wait until September for this legislation to take effect. The government must act with urgency.”
After Tuesday’s horror, our reporters found thousands of similar katana blades for sale online and in shops, including one a few miles from where Daniel was killed in Hainault. We found the same types of weapons sold up and down the UK, including on popular internet marketplaces where age verification does not appear to be necessary. One samurai sword, listed for £115, was described as a “battle ready”. Another Japanese sword with a 3ft blade priced at £110 was found on a popular marketplace alongside dozens of similar listings.
Crimes involving blades rose 7% to 49,489 last year from 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics – an increase of 60% since 2016. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 36, of Newham, East London, has been remanded in custody accused of murdering Daniel, plus two counts of attempted murder, two counts of causing GBH, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.
