The government is taking action to halve knife crime within a decade through its Safer Streets Mission. Initiatives are in place to remove weapons from circulation, including banning dangerous weapons, tightening the sale of knives online, tougher sentences, and early intervention. As part of this ban, the Government has announced a ban on ninja swords from 1st August.
This July, the Government is running a surrender scheme across England and Wales to offer safe disposal of ninja swords at designated police stations.
People who own a ninja sword purchased before March 27, 2025 may be eligible for compensation. Ninja swords purchased after that date can be surrendered but are not eligible for compensation.
Not sure if your weapon qualifies as a ninja sword? Find full guidance and images on GOV.UK.
Police stations are ONLY accepting ninja swords, not other weapons.
For those wishing to surrender other types of bladed weapons there is separate scheme placing community surrender bins and a mobile surrender van in communities across London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester in partnership with knife crime charities, Faz Amnesty and Words4Weapons.
Find out more detail about surrendering weapons via these schemes visit this GOV.UK link.
When we read about fatal stabbings making headlines across the country, it is both heart breaking and frightening. Every life lost is devastating, not only to families but communities too.
But there are concrete actions we can take. Early intervention, community policing, education and youth-focused programmes can, and do, make a real difference. From a community perspective, we need to be ready and able to talk to our children and grandchildren about the dangers of knife carrying, and how they can feel safe and supported.
John Hayward-Cripps, Chief Executive of Neighbourhood Watch
Find Neighbourhood Watch guidance on knife crime, recognising the signs, and talking to young people about it here.