Stricter age checks on sales of knives online unveiled after Southport attack

Court sketch of Axel Rudakubana, 18, shouting from the dock as he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court, for his sentencing hearing after he pleaded guilty to murdering three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class
-Credit:PA Wire/PA Images


Individuals purchasing knives online will soon be required to provide photo identification both at the time of purchase and upon delivery, as part of the Government's plans to introduce stricter age verification checks in response to the Southport attack. This two-step system, which will be mandatory for all online retailers selling knives, may necessitate buyers to submit official identification documents, such as a passport or driving license, along with proof of address, like a utility bill.

Additionally, buyers may also be asked to provide a current photo or video of themselves to the online retailer along with their identification, according to the Home Office. Under the new rules, retailers will only be permitted to deliver bladed articles to the individual who made the purchase, and it will be against the law to leave a package containing a bladed weapon on a doorstep if no one is present.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to take swift action to prevent individuals under the age of 18 from purchasing knives online, emphasizing that it was "shockingly easy" for perpetrators, such as Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana, to obtain weapons.

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Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "It’s a total disgrace how easy it still is for children to get dangerous weapons online.

"More than two years after Ronan Kanda was killed with a ninja sword bought by a teenager online, too many retailers still don’t have proper checks in place.

"It’s too easy to put in false birth dates, parcels are too often being dropped off at a doorstop with no questions asked.

"We cannot go on like this. We need much stronger checks – before you buy, before it’s delivered.

"The measures I am setting out today will be crucial in addressing this problem and are part of our Plan for Change and mission to make streets safer."

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The sale of knives with a fixed blade of more than three inches long to under-18s is illegal in England and Wales, with retailers facing fines or prosecution if they breach the law.

Current laws require sellers to operate an age verification system that is likely to prevent a person under 18 from buying a knife, but the legislation does not stipulate the elements of such systems. At Rudakubana’s sentencing on Thursday, prosecutors said he had bought two identical knives from Amazon on July 13 2024, taking steps to hide his identity when he did so "by using a virtual private network (VPN), which encrypts personal data".

Amazon said it took its responsibility around the sale of bladed products "extremely seriously" and had launched an urgent investigation in relation to "this tragic case".

The company has verified its use of "trusted ID verification services" to confirm the age of customers when buying age-restricted items, and adheres as well to an age verification delivery process that demands drivers to validate the recipient’s age. In the incident under scrutiny, records indicate that the driver noted a year of birth that aligned with adulthood and designated the recipient as seemingly over 25 years old, in line with company policies and standard industry practice.

The Home Office unveiled fresh measures on Sunday, which will be incorporated into the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill, anticipated to be laid before Parliament by spring, with additional propositions set to follow in the ensuing weeks. Last year, Ms Cooper tasked Commander Stephen Clayman, who leads nationally on knife crime for the police, with conducting an exhaustive review into the online sale and dispatch of knives.

The comprehensive report is slated for release at the culmination of January, and heightened ID checks are among the suggested strategies, according to the Home Office.