Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that legitimate knife manufacturers are not adversely affected by online restrictions intended to reduce knife crime.

We are committed to strengthening the law around online sales which is why we are conducting a rapid review of the online sale and delivery of knives and how controls can be strengthened. The review is being taken forward by Commander Stephen Clayman, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime. The review will take in to account the position of legitimate businesses alongside the demands of public safety.

We are also progressing a manifesto commitment to hold senior executives personally liable for flouting the law on the online sale of knives.

We are currently consulting the public on proposals to introduce personal liability measures on senior executives of online platforms and marketplaces who fail to take action to remove illegal content relating to knives and offensive weapons. The consultation will run for 4 weeks until 11 December 2024.

Sale of knives: executive sanctions www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sale-of-knives-executive-sanctions