Thames Valley PCC ‘sceptical’ of ninja sword ban and amnesty
Matthew Barber says "we should be cautious about thinking that simply banning something solves the problem"
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley says he’s ‘sceptical’ of banning individual weapons, including ninja sword’s which become illegal to own from 1st August 2025.
From tomorrow, a national amnesty starts which urges anyone who owns a ninja sword to hand it in to the police at specific stations.
The amnesty lasts until July 31st and the government is also offering a compensation scheme for those that currently own such swords.
People can claim £5 per weapon, unless proof can be provided the item had a higher cost.
To be eligible, they must lawfully own the item and be able to provide proof, such as a receipt, that it was bought before March 27, 2025.
Ninja swords are defined as having a blade between 14 and 24 inches, a straight cutting edge, and a tanto-style point (angled tip).
It is already a criminal offence to carry the weapons in public.
PCC Matthew Barber says, “we should be cautious about thinking that simply banning something solves the problem”.
He said: “There are very few legitimate reasons for people wanting to have these weapons, and they've certainly been used on occasion for violent acts but I'm also a little bit sceptical about when governments of all colours choose to ban individual weapons.
“New legislation creates the impression of lots of activity and the reality is that, sadly, most people who are injured or killed with a knife in the UK, it will be a traditional kitchen knife. It’s something that we've all got, and it simply isn't practical to ban.
“Of course, it's good to bear down on those people who will use these weapons, and it does, to some extent, tidy up a bit of a loophole in the law that allows the police to act when they find weapons in private properties but equally, we need to see real results on the ground.
“We're seeing knife crime coming down in the Thames Valley and we shouldn't think that just by banning weapons, which are illegal to have in public places anyway, it’s going to be the solution to everything.”