Nearly 60,000 knives have been removed from streets in England and Wales through new knife surrender schemes and police operations under this government protecting communities and saving young lives.

The figures come as knife homicides have fallen by almost 20% while knife crime overall has fallen for the first time in 4 years, dropping by 5%. The latest admissions data for NHS hospitals in England and Wales also show a 10% fall in admissions for knife assaults.

The government has stated its mission to halve knife crime within a decade, and current data shows it is on track to do this. But every life lost to knife crime is a tragedy.

The first phase of Ronan’s Law, banning ninja swords, was introduced last summer. Ahead of the ban, the government launched a month-long surrender scheme so these dangerous weapons could be safely handed in, including funding nearly 40 new surrender bins and a mobile van in parts of London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands – the areas worst-hit by knife crime.

The latest figures show how this government has removed knives from our streets:

  • 7,512 knives and weapons were surrendered either through the ninja sword surrender and compensation scheme, handed in to the mobile surrender van or dropped into surrender bins in the most recent surrender scheme
  • 47,795 zombie-style knives and machetes surrendered last year
  • 3,334 knives seized by Border Force
  • 618 knives recovered through County Lines Programme operations

These efforts are supported by smarter policing – including hotspot patrols, knife arches, drones, and plain clothes officers – and strong partnerships with charities and communities. The results have also been praised by leading campaigners, charities and the families of knife crime victims. Find out more about this work on gov.uk. 

After my son Ronan was killed with a ninja sword bought online, I worked with the government to deliver Ronan’s Law, banning these weapons and introducing strict checks.

Thanks to the new amnesty scheme, which took place a month before the ban was implemented, over 7,500 dangerous weapons have already been surrendered, and knife-enabled robberies have fallen nationally by 10%, with a nearly 30% drop in the West Midlands region.

Real change is happening — in memory of Ronan and for the safety of every young person. I am grateful to the government for taking real action and making real change

Pooja Kanda, knife crime campaigner and mother of Ronan.