Government weighs consultation findings on new licensing regime for knife sales

The Government is considering the outcome of a national consultation on introducing a licensing system for knife sales, a proposal reported by The Telegraph as part of Labour’s wider plan to halve knife crime over the next decade.

According to the report, ministers are examining a scheme that would require shops — both online and in‑person — to hold a licence to sell certain types of knives. Everyday cutlery would be excluded, but sharp‑pointed kitchen knives, which are frequently used in violent offences, would fall within scope.

Under the proposals outlined in The Telegraph, retailers would need to record the details of anyone purchasing a knife and provide that information to police on request. It would become a criminal offence to sell or market knives without being registered, and police could ban individuals or businesses from selling knives if they breached licence conditions or were deemed unsuitable due to a criminal record.

The consultation also explored background checks for sellers, inspections of premises to ensure safe storage, and a requirement for large retail chains to obtain a separate licence for each store, renewed every three years. The regime would apply to second‑hand sales and anonymous online listings, which officials fear could otherwise create loopholes.

The proposals follow a series of measures introduced after the Southport killings, in which 17‑year‑old Axel Rudakubana used a kitchen knife bought online to murder three young girls in July 2024. Since then, the Government has mandated two‑step age verification for online knife purchases and required sellers to report bulk orders of six or more knives.

While the consultation reflects growing pressure to tighten controls, the plans have drawn criticism. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation told The Telegraph the system would be “unworkable and costly” for rural businesses, arguing that kitchen knives are already widely accessible in homes across the UK. The British Retail Consortium sad any scheme must be proportionate, practical and limited to specific knife categories.

Ministers are expected to set out next steps once they have fully reviewed the consultation responses.