UK Introduces 'Ronan's Law' to Strengthen Online Knife Sale Regulations

The UK government has introduced 'Ronan's Law', a comprehensive set of measures aimed at curbing knife crime and illegal online sales of knives. The law includes mandatory reporting by retailers of bulk or suspicious knife purchases to police, an end-to-end review of online knife sales, and increased penalties for selling weapons to minors, raising the potential jail time from six months to two years. This initiative is in response to the tragic murder of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda in Wolverhampton in 2022, whose killers obtained their weapons online without proper age verification. Additionally, a new offense of possessing a weapon with intent for violence will be established, and there will be a national police unit dedicated to tackling knife sales. The measures have been welcomed by advocacy groups, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement and community safety. Experts have pointed out significant vulnerabilities in current age verification processes, highlighting the urgency for these reforms.