‘Ronan’s Law’ introduced to tighten online knife sales after the tragic death of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
The UK government has announced stricter regulations on online knife sales, naming the new legislation “Ronan’s Law” in memory of Ronan Kanda, an Indian-origin teenager who was fatally stabbed in 2022, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
The new measures will require online retailers to report suspicious or bulk knife purchases to the police to prevent illegal resales on social media platforms. This move comes after multiple cases where unregulated online sales led to fatal incidents involving young people.
Harsher Penalties for Violating Knife Sale Laws
Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for the Home Department, announced increased penalties for violating these regulations
“We will increase the sentence for selling weapons to under-18s from six months to up to two years in prison, which could apply to an individual who processed the sale or the CEO of the company,” said Cooper.
The enhanced penalties will also cover the sale of recently banned weapons like zombie-style knives. This follows evidence from Commander Stephen Clayman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, who highlighted a legal gap where selling weapons illegally carries less severe punishment than possessing them.
Additionally, the UK government will introduce a new offence of possessing an offensive weapon with intent to cause violence under the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill. This offence carries a prison sentence of up to four years and applies whether the weapon itself is legal or illegal.
Ronan Kanda’s Case Sparks Legal Action
Ronan’s Law is named after 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was killed in Wolverhampton in 2022 due to mistaken identity. His teenage killers had purchased lethal weapons online without any age verification. Reports revealed that one of the perpetrators had bought over 20 knives online, sometimes using his mother’s ID.
Commander Clayman emphasized the importance of these legal changes, saying, “A key focus in our fight to tackle knife crime is limiting the accessibility of knives, restricting their availability, and closing the routes to purchase. All too often, we witness the devastating consequences of knife crime on individuals and families.”
The UK government’s new measures aim to prevent further tragedies and hold online retailers accountable for illegal weapon sales.
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