UK Government Pledges to End Underage Knife Sales
A rise in knife crime in the UK over the past decade has plagued communities and destroyed families. While the driving factors behind this trend are no doubt complex and multi-faceted, the prevalence of underage knife sales taking place online is adding fuel to the fire.
In the wake of the devastating attack in Southport last summer, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to stamp out the sale of knives to young people online. Let’s take a closer look at what this means and how it might impact online retailers moving forward.
How Easily Can Children Get Knives?
In high street shops and supermarkets, sales of knives and sharp instruments are strictly controlled. However, the same cannot be said for online stores. While some major platforms will have tighter controls in place, age verification processes and checks on other less popular ecommerce channels can be well below par.
Over the past few years, there have been numerous reports from news outlets in the UK in which journalists and investigators have managed to purchase knives, often highly dangerous ‘zombie knives’, online without the need to provide any form of identity verification. This has highlighted the scale of the problem, and things have only been exacerbated by the rise of cheap, international shopping platforms like Temu and Wish.
The Impact of Knives on Communities
It goes without saying that knives can have a devastating effect on communities. In 2023, there were 233 recorded knife fatalities in England and Wales. This number doesn’t take into account non-fatal incidents, which can leave victims with life-changing physical and emotional injuries.
Charities and organisations are working tirelessly to help those affected by knife crime, but unfortunately, the problem appears to be getting worse. Despite work being done in education and early prevention, young people are still able to buy knives online, which directly impacts the work being done to stem the tide of knife crime.
What Has the Government Said?
While working with young people to encourage them to stop carrying knives is an important approach, we should also be looking to cut off access to these weapons. Unfortunately, ineffective online age verification processes mean it’s easy for underage internet users to purchase prohibited items like knives.
Stopping the problem at the source is key. To do so, online retailers must review how they verify customer ages and ensure the systems they have in place are robust and effective. As proven by numerous reports and investigations, many current verification systems aren’t fit for purpose and can be easily exploited by underage users looking to purchase knives. Limiting access to deadly weapons is absolutely critical and will prove integral in the fight to eradicate knife crime.
Speaking about the Southport knife attack, Keir Starmer has pledged to end underage knife sales and has spoken about the need for tighter online controls. According to reports, online retailers will be required to request two forms of ID before selling knives, and consumers will have to upload identity documents before any purchase is approved.
Starmer also said that these plans will be ‘fast-tracked’, an indication of just how seriously the government is taking the situation.
What Does the Future Hold?
The digital landscape is changing rapidly. Safety and security concerns are now taking centre stage, and online retailers must be prepared to meet new rules and regulations. Online shopping, in particular, is facing ever-tightening restrictions and controls. These are being put in place to stamp out the sale of prohibited products to underage customers and protect vulnerable people in our society. By partnering with an age verification solutions provider like AgeChecked, retailers can operate with the confidence that they are not breaching any age restriction-related laws and future-proof their business for imminent regulatory changes.
