The UK government has announced plans to enforce a law that bars children and teenagers from purchasing knives, following the brutal murders in Southport, Liverpool.
The knife attack by 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana in July 2024, which led to the death of three girls, was described as one of the most horrible moments in Britain’s history by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The incident sparked widespread anti-immigrant protests across several cities in the UK, as public concerns over national security grew.
In response to the tragedy, the government launched a public inquiry to investigate the factors that contributed to the attack and identify any failures by authorities in preventing it.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the ease with which Rudakubana was able to purchase a knife online, calling it a “disgrace.”
She stated that current processes allow minors to bypass age restrictions too easily, often by entering false birth dates, and that deliveries frequently occur without proper checks.
“It’s unacceptable that children can still access dangerous weapons so easily online,” Cooper said in a statement.
“Too often, parcels are left at doorsteps with no questions asked.”
In response to the public outcry, the proposed legislation will enforce stricter age-verification measures for knife sales, to ensure that those under 18 no longer have access to knives.
Retailers will be required to verify photo identification at both the point of sale and delivery. Additionally, deliveries will only be accepted by the person who originally placed the order.
The proposed legislation will be included in an upcoming bill in the coming months.
