Plans to force online retailers to put in place tougher checks to stop youngsters buying knives have been described as “a start” but that “it does not in any way, shape, or form, stop or reduce knife crime” by supporters of the Together for Change campaign. Last week, the Government promised new laws in order to prevent “shockingly easy” access to knives for youngsters.
The new laws were promised after Southport murderer Axel Rudakubana, 18, pleaded guilty to the murder of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside in July, after buying a knife online. He was later sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison.
As part of new laws promised, two-factor identification could be used to enable retailers to ask anyone buying a knife for two types of identification, such as a passport or driving licence. Buyers could also be asked to record a live video to prove their age.
However, supporters of the Together for Change campaign have said that the proposed laws do not go far enough and that it can be bypassed. The Together for Change anti-knife campaign was launched nearly a year ago and has seen Bristol ’s media organisations work together with community leaders and organisations to say enough is enough.
Reverend Dawnecia Palmer, who leads the Peacemaker Prayer Patrols in Bristol, called on the Government to do more as she feels that the only way to reduce knife crime is to ban knives being taken onto the streets.
Reverend Palmer said: “I’ve been asking for a law to be passed and this [his promise of action] goes as far as someone putting their ID in, but they could just ask an older person to buy it. They’re still going to be taking a knife onto the street.
“For me, this is a start but it does not in any way shape or form stop or reduce knife crime. To stop knife crime in our streets, we need to have a law to forbid people from taking a knife out in the first place. It’s simple, that’s the only thing that will stop knife crime.”
Darrian Williams, who was 16 when he was fatally stabbed in Rawnsley Park in February 2024, was the cousin of Reverend Palmer’s children. Two 16-year-old boys were found guilty of his murder in November and both received life sentences in December.
“I speak on behalf of those who have had young people killed or family members killed, including myself,” Reverend Palmer added. “Darrian was directly related to my family and [his death] was related to a postcode, it really affected my children.
“ID has nothing to do with reducing crime as far as I am concerned as people can ask others who are older to buy a knife.”
Together For Change Aims
Set up a task force – We will develop a community-driven task force to meet and discuss the issue, how best to tackle it and how we can make a real difference with those in power.
Getting knives off the street – We will work with the campaigners to raise awareness of initiatives designed to get knives off the streets.
Social media – We will look at the Online Safety Bill and see if it goes far enough where it comes to harmful knife-related content on social media and how easy it is for children to see.
Raise awareness – We will work together to raise the awareness of how knife crime is linked to poverty, education, employment, social exclusion and the collapse in youth services
Lobby the government -We will cover the issue in the context of the General Election, using our findings from the taskforce and our reporting to lobby for change
Hold power to account – We will scrutinise and hold Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council to account on their plans and models to make Bristol safer
One of the biggest visible responses to the knife crime tragedies that have haunted the city in recent years has come from a bleed kit rollout. Hundreds of these specialist first aid kits are now located across the city since the initiative began in 2021.
Leanne Reynolds, who has also supported the Together for Change campaign, said that the planned laws are “a start” but feels that it is also by-passable. Leanne said: ““It’s taken too long and we all know we are in a crisis with knife crime and this should have been in place a long time ago.
“It’s a start and possibly in the right direction. Unfortunately we have individuals of adult age who will exploit the policy and buy for the youths.”
“Impact on communities is devastating”
The plans were welcomed by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police, Clare Moody. She said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, I would welcome new legislation that makes purchasing knives more secure. We all have a responsibility to tackle the issue of knife crime, because the impact it can have on young people and our communities is devastating.
“Over the past year, too many families in Avon and Somerset have faced the unimaginable grief of losing loved ones to knife crime, and the toll on our communities has been relentless. There is, however, inspiring work happening on the ground.
“The police, community groups, and partners across our five local authorities are working together to provide young people with opportunities, guidance and support to help them stay safe from knife crime. While these efforts are making a difference, the issue persists.
“Beyond grassroots initiatives and police action to charge and prosecute offenders, we need strong national interventions. I welcome this important development as a vital step towards making knives harder to purchase online.”
What did the Prime Minister say?
Writing in The Sun last week, Sir Kier Starmer said: “It remains shockingly easy for our children to get their hands on deadly knives. The lessons of this case could not be clearer. Time and again, as a child, the Southport murderer carried knives. Time and again, he showed clear intent to use them.
“And yet, tragically, he was still able to order the murder weapon off of the internet without any checks or barriers. A two-click killer. This cannot continue. The technology is there to set up age verification checks, even for kitchen knives ordered online.
“We must now use it to protect our children from future attack and I will ensure that this happens.” Minister Ms McGovern was asked how two-factor identification to prevent people who are not old enough to buy knives would work.
“Knife crime is horrendous and we have got to have the new measures that you just mentioned, because we cannot have this flow of knives that can cause such absolute devastation,” she told BBC Breakfast. “We know that the technology is there to improve verification checks and I think that everyone would want that, every business, every organisation.”
She said the Government will work with retailers to stop knives getting into the wrong hands. But she stressed that “in the end, we’ve got to have the right checks in place” and said the Government will “look at every measure that we can bring forward through legislation”.