Ninja Sword ban comes into force in Essex as government delivers manifesto commitment
It follows a month long amnesty across the county.
Last updated 1st Aug 2025
From today it becomes illegal in Essex and across the country to have, sell, make or import large knives called ninja swords.
Anyone caught with one could face 6 months in prison, and this will later increase to two years under new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill.
The majority of ninja swords have a blade between 14 inches and 24 inches with one straight cutting edge with a tanto style point.
Ian Hughes from Essex police tells Greatest Hits Radio it's seen ninja swords, that meet the criteria, handed into front counters and amnesty bins over the last month.
The Home Office is expected to release the exact number in the coming weeks.
"We have two collections of the Essex knife bins a year, and we send them off to the home office.
"When it comes to ninja swords there is a different aspect of people that might have possession of these as they are heavily linked to martial arts.
Essex police has seen a 14% reduction in knife-related crime year-on-year.
Temporary Superintendent Hughes says the force use stop and search tactics, facial recognition, and an open gate weapons detection system on the streets, to identify people carrying weapons.
Current laws mean anyone seen with a weapon in public could face up to four years prison sentence.
The ninja sword ban comes after a month-long national surrender scheme allowing any member of the public to hand in ninja swords safely.
People in Essex were encouraged to drop the weapon to police station front counters in Chelmsford, Southend, Grays, and Colchester, or via knife amnesty bins.
It followed a similar zombie knife and machete surrender scheme held in summer 2024.
During last year’s amnesty, more than 200 knives were handed in to police station front counters across Essex.
Hundreds more were deposited in knife bins, located outside police stations.
Mr Hughes has this message: "If you're thinking about carrying a knife because you think it's going to protect yourself, don't."
"The impact is not only on the person you may use the weapon on, but also their family, and your own family.
The ninja sword ban is part of the government's commitment to halve knife crime.
It is the final stage of Ronan’s Law, introduced in Parliament by the Kanda family.
Ronan Kanda was stabbed to death in 2022 in a case of mistaken identity, by two teenagers who had bought a set of swords and a machete on the internet.
Other stages of the government's commitment includes:
- restricting the availability of knives online
- hold those responsible for selling knives irresponsibly to account
- better support young people at an early stage who are vulnerable to a life of crime
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
"Knife crime is destroying young lives as too many teenagers are being drawn into violence and it is far too easy for them to get hold of dangerous weapons.
"Ronan Kanda was just 16 when he was ruthlessly killed by 2 boys only a year older than him. Today we are introducing the final part of Ronan’s law in his memory – banning the ninja swords that his killers should never have been able to use.
"We are acting with urgency to bring forward measures to prevent deadly weapons from getting into the wrong hands and will continue to do whatever is needed to prevent young people being killed on our streets as part of our mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.
Pooja Kanda said:
"Today marks a very important day for us as a family and our campaign. Since losing our beautiful boy Ronan, we have relentlessly campaigned for a ban on ninja swords – the lethal weapon which took his life. We believe ninja swords have no place in our society other than to seriously harm and kill.
"We are so grateful to our government for hearing us and for recognising how important and urgent it is to get these dangerous weapons off our streets. Each step towards tackling knife crime is a step towards getting justice for our boy Ronan.