Gov crackdown on knife sales won't solve problem, says Birmingham campaigner
The government has announced changes to 'Ronan's Law'.
Last updated 19th Feb 2025
A mother whose son was stabbed to death in Digbeth said the government's latest crack down on the sale of knives will not solve the problem with knife crime.
Today (19 Feb), the Home Office announced a raft of anti-knife crime plans.
What are the government's latest plans to tackle knife crime?
This includes making retailers report bulk or suspicious sales to police.
Their plans also include increasing the jail sentence for selling weapons to children, or illegal blades, such as zombie knives, to two years.
The measures proposed will be known collectively as Ronan's Law, after his mother Pooja and sister Nikita campaigned for legal changes.
Ronan Kanda from Wolverhampton, died in a case of mistaken identity by two boys who were able to buy knives with no identity checks.
What do campaigners think about the crack down on the sale of knives?
Lynne Baird MBE lost her son Daniel in 2017 when he was stabbed on his way home from visiting The Forge Tavern in Digbeth.
She told us her reaction to the government's crack down:
"There are some knives you are never going to be able to stop, but they are doing what they can.
"I do think that they can do more, but give them time," she said.
We asked her whether she felt these changes to 'Ronan's Law' would have made a difference to what happened to her son in 2017:
"I do not think so, to be honest. If there had been a bleed control kit around, there certainly would have been a difference," she said.
Since Daniel's death, Lynne has been campaigning for more bleed control kits throughout Birmingham with the Daniel Baird Foundation.
Bleed control kits provide the necessary tools and supplies to quickly and effectively manage life-threatening bleeding until professional medical help arrives.
What do the government say?
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "It is horrifying how easy it is for young people to get hold of knives online even though children's lives are being lost, and families and communities are left devastated as a result.
"Not enough has been done to tackle the online market over recent years which is why we made it an urgent priority in our manifesto and the measures today will be underpinned by investment for a new dedicated police unit to go after those who are breaking the law and putting children's and teenagers' lives at risk," she said.
A consultation will be held later in the year on whether online retailers should have to register in order to be able to sell knives.