Knife Crime Centre launch signals commitment to safer future

Officially launched today at an event in central London, the National Knife Crime Centre funded by the Home Office, will support policing in helping to deliver the Government’s ambition to halve knife crime in the next 10 years.

The centre will be led by Commander Stephen Clayman, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime since 2023 who has been instrumental in highlighting the threat posed by online sellers and social media platforms.

In late 2024, Commander Clayman and his team were tasked with leading a significant review into how knives are sold online to identify any gaps in legislation which could prevent them being sold illegally to under-18s. A number of recommendations were made in this review and a core part of the centre’s work will be delivering these, including the requirement for retailers to refer suspicious or bulk knife sales to police and the requirement for retailers to become registered or licensed to sell knives.

On the back of the review, the Government has already placed two recommendations into the forthcoming Policing and Crime Bill and launched a public consultation (now closed) in relation to retailer licensing and import licences across both physical and online shops.

Building on the strength and success of pioneering work by the Metropolitan Police, the centre will support national policing in identifying and tackling offenders who sell and distribute weapons online, often referred to as the ‘grey market’. These individuals will often purchase knives in bulk and then re-sell through social media platforms, worryingly increasing the accessibility of weapons to individuals of all ages.

The importation of knives is also a major threat, with sellers outside of the UK not subject to the same stringent requirements and legislation around responsible retailing and the sale of items banned under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019. Through close partnership working with Border Force and HMRC, the centre will explore how best to close any ‘gaps’ which allow these weapons to reach individuals in the UK.

Additionally, the centre is already supporting police forces and criminal justice partners with training in identifying offensive weapons and the different aspects of legislation available to bring offenders to justice.

Speaking at the launch, Commander Clayman said:

“Today’s launch of the National Knife Crime Centre is the culmination of extensive analysis, partnership working, and a growing recognition that our approach to knife crime must evolve with the rapidly changing methods in which knives are acquired and used. We are still building the Centre and I hope it will grow over time as we work towards achieving our ambitious commitments.

“Knife related crime devastates families and communities. It places immense pressure on society, policing and criminal justice. But it does not have to be inevitable. . By combining the findings of the review with a coordinated national system, stronger legislation, improved regulation, and early‑intervention support, we do have a clear path forward.

“In launching this centre today, we are signalling our collective commitment to a safer future; a commitment to tackling the supply routes through which knives are purchased, a commitment to strengthening the systems that protect young people and a commitment to ensuring that no family has to endure the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one to knife violence.

“Thank you to everyone who contributed evidence and expertise to the review, and to all those who will be part what lies ahead.”

Pooja Kanda’s son, Ronan, was fatally stabbed in 2022. She said:

“As a mother who has lost her son to knife crime, I know the devastating reality behind the statistics. Ronan was an innocent child, taken in an instant — and no family should have to live with that pain.

“The launch of the National Knife Crime Centre is a significant and necessary step forward. For too long, gaps in systems and the accessibility of dangerous weapons have put young lives at risk. This centre is an opportunity to bring policing, government, and communities together to drive real, lasting change.

“What matters now is impact — stronger prevention, better intelligence sharing, and real accountability, particularly around how weapons are sold both online and in-store. Through Ronan’s Law, we have already seen that change is possible.

“Ronan should still be here today. If this work prevents even one family from experiencing this pain, it is a step in the right direction. I will continue to work alongside those committed to making our communities safer, in Ronan’s name.”

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said:

“Knife crime ruins lives, devastates families and damages communities. The launch of the National Knife Crime Centre is a major step forward in our collective effort to tackle this harm.

“By bringing together policing, Government and partners in one national centre of expertise, we are strengthening our ability to disrupt the illegal supply of knives, close loopholes in online and overseas sales, and keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands.

“This Government has set an ambitious goal to halve knife crime over the next decade, and the National Knife Crime Centre will be central to delivering that mission.”