Kent campaigner welcomes new plans to fine social media bosses who don't delete illegal knife adverts
The Home Secretary's proposing a 10 thousand pound punishment if posts aren't taken down in two days.
New plans to fine social media bosses who don't delete illegal knife adverts are being described as a 'positive step' by an anti-knife crime campaigner from Kent.
It comes as the government announces new measures to tackle knife crime.
Social media bosses who don't take down illegal knife adverts on their platforms could soon be fined 10-thousand pounds.
The Home Office is planning on making executives "personally liable" if posts aren't removed within two days.
Andy Richardson, from Uprising in Ashford, says he wants to see 'action'.
"You then want to hear about tech bosses that have been hit by these large fines, because that's then a deterrent for other people. If you hear about big companies being smashed by fines it's going to make you think twice, isn't it?" says Mr Richardson.
Uprising is a growing charity based in Ashford working to support youth in the community.
Mr Richardson tells us the move is "positive".
"You can put these bans in place but if there's any loopholes for tech companies that can still make money online through selling these zombie knives, then ultimately they will do it.
"So to have big repercussions such as these, can only be positive", he says.
Mr Richardson tells us "education" is needed.
"There needs to be some kind of funding that works on the ground. Unless you are educating young people alongside these measures, the issue is still going to happen."
The Home Office said the proposed measures, announced on Wednesday, to make senior technology executives "personally liable" were in a bid to combat the "unacceptable use of social media and online marketplaces to market illegal weapons and glorify violence" and to make sure content is quickly removed.
Police will be given the power to issue notices to senior bosses at online companies and order them to remove specific adverts and content, potentially within two days, if the plans progress.
Officers can then send a second notice if the company still fails to act which would hold the executive personally liable for a "significant fine" if they do not take action.
The move is the latest step in efforts by ministers to meet Labour's manifesto pledge of halving knife crime levels over the next decade.