Retailers who sell knives were warned by Policing Minister Sarah Jones that they must not use violent imagery in adverts – following concerns raised during the Southport Inquiry
Teacher Leanne Lucas, who survived the Southport attack, said retailers have a key role to play in tackling knife crime(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Online knife retailers have been given a dressing down over images of combat and violence to market blades following alarm from campaigners.
Policing minister Sarah Jones challenged internet over irresponsible adverts, while a survivor of the Southport attack said businesses cannot wait until the next tragedy to make changes.
At a Home Office summit, Ms Jones told businesses their adverts must comply with the law as she demanded action. And in a second meeting with bricks-and-mortar retailers, the minister said knives must not be displayed where they can be easily accessed.
Ms Jones told The Mirror that the government will be holding retailers to account. She said: “Most businesses act responsibly, but when lives are at stake we cannot simply rely on good intentions. We need a commitment to high standards right across the industry.
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“I have listened to campaigners and families who have worked tirelessly to highlight the risks posed by irresponsible knife sales and marketing. Their voices matter, and these summits are an opportunity to turn those concerns into meaningful change.
“We want businesses to be part of the solution by reviewing their practices, strengthening protections and helping to stop dangerous knives reaching the wrong hands.”
The first phase of the public inquiry into the 2024 Southport murders – which saw three young girls killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed summer dance class – raised concerns over the way blades are sold online.
Teacher Leanne Lucas, who was one of 10 people seriously injured in the attack by violence-obssessed teen Axel Rubakubana, said: “Every knife has a lifecycle – from design and manufacture to marketing, display, sale, storage and access – with opportunities for prevention at every stage. Everyday pointed-tip kitchen knives must be part of the discussion about stronger safeguards.”
Leanne, who founded campaign group Let’s Be Blunt following the atrocity, said: “Retailers must take responsibility for what they stock and how knives are marketed, stored, displayed and sold, giving staff the education, training and support to put policies into practice. We need businesses to make bold commitments, follow them through and become role models across the sector.
“We cannot wait for the next tragedy to make simple, practical changes, whether knives are sold in shops or online.”
Alan Bacon, whose mum Tracy was stabbed and killed in 2015, said shops must ramp up steps to make knives less acceptable. Tracy was murdered in her Kent home by her former partner.
Alan, who founded pressure group No Point Knives, said: “For ‘No Point Knives’ these summits are the culmination of a decade’s worth of campaigning and highlighting shops that are selling knives without consideration for safety.
“Thanks to this government we finally have the chance to present our evidence to the industry and make a difference.”
Labour came to power pledging to halve knife crime within a decade. Since then overall crimes involving a blade has fallen by 11%, while knife-related homices are down 26% in England and Wales. Hospital admissions with knife-related injuries have fallen 13% in that time.
Commander Stephen Clayman, head of the National Knife Crime Centre (NKCC), said: “At the NKCC, we are working tirelessly to restrict illicit knife supply through the unregulated grey market and importation of prohibited weapons from countries with different legislation to the UK, both of which remain significant concerns for law enforcement.
“But retailers, whether online or on the high street, also have a significant role to play, and that was made abundantly clear at today’s summit. Responsible selling and marketing practices are vital if we are to reduce children’s access to dangerous weapons.”
