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Pooja Kanda, whose son Ronan was stabbed to death with a ninja sword his killers had bought online, has welcomed a clampdown on online knife sales announced by Yvette Cooper
The mum of murdered teenager Ronan Kanda has said that if the new laws were in place, her son would still be alive.
Pooja Kanda met Home Secretary Yvette Cooper at Ronan’s old school, the Khalsa Academy in Wolverhampton, on Tuesday. The bereaved mum struggled to hold back tears as she heard laws to prevent other families going through similar pain will be brought in.
Pooja told the Government frontbencher: “We’re protecting the public, it’s incredible how strong this is. If this had been in place years ago my son would be here today. I genuinely believe that.”
Pooja, who held Ms Cooper’s hand as they talked, said: “We couldn’t protect Ronan, but there are many more that could be protected. I believe this is a strong step ahead. All the learnings will mean we’ll do better.”
Ronan, who was 16, was stabbed to death with a 20-inch ninja sword that his killer had bought online. He was murdered as he walked home in Wolverhampton in 2022 in a horrific case of mistaken identity.
Since the tragedy Pooja has campaigned tirelessly for tougher laws around knife sales. The Government has pledged to bring in Ronan’s Law – which will include a raft of tough new laws – in her son’s memory.
Ms Cooper piled praise on the anti-knife crime campaigner, telling her: “Your strength has been phenomenal. You’ve been a voice for change and you showed us all the things that went wrong.
“That’s what this law is all about.” For the first time a new police unit will target deadly weapons being sold on social media, while the Government is looking at compulsory licencing with tougher prison sentences for those profiting from misery.
Under the new laws, which will be put before MPs next week, online retailers will have a duty to report suspicious bulk purchases they suspect could lead to weapons being resold. Those who fail to do so face fines of up to £10,000.
The Home Office has announced jail terms for those selling knives to under-18s will be ramped up from six months to two years. These can be applied to workers who process illegal sales as well as the chief executives of a company.
There will also be a new criminal offence of possessing an offensive weapon with intent for violence – carrying a jail term of up to four years in prison. The Home Office says it will explore setting up a registration system for businesses that sell knives online to ensure that only responsible sellers can do so.
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden, Pooja’s local MP, told The Mirror: “Right now it’s far too easy to buy a murder weapon.
“This case has highlighted many failings. Ronan’s mum Pooja has campaigned with incredible courage in memory of her son.”
