New national centre launched to fight knife crime
The National Knife Crime Coordination Centre in London aims to bring together police, government, and community groups to tackle the issue all over the country.
Last updated 9 hours ago
A new National Knife Crime Centre is officially launching today, aiming to step up the fight against the issue on the country's streets.
The centre in London will be funded by the Home Office and will support police forces to enforce tougher rules and tackle illegal weapon sales online.
The centre is part of government plans to halve knife crime in the next decade.
Commander Stephen Clayman, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime since 2023 will lead the centre.
He's 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 in relation to retailer licensing and import licences across both physical and online shops.
The centre will support police teams around the country in tackling offenders who sell and distribute weapons online, often referred to as the ‘grey market’. They often purchase knives in bulk and re-sell through social media platforms, meaning people of all ages have access to weapons.
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.
Speaking at the launch, Commander Clayman said the centre is the culmination of extensive analysis and working in partnership with campaign groups:
“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.
Commander Clayman also thanked those you to who contributed evidence and expertise to the review which lead to the creation of the centre.
Victims hope it leads to tougher rules
Pooja Kanda’s son, Ronan, was fatally stabbed in 2022 and said as a mother who has lost her son to knife crime, she knos 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.
She called the launch of the National Knife Crime Centre a 'significant and necessary step forward.'
"For too long, gaps in systems and the accessibility of dangerous weapons have put young lives at risk."
She hopes 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.”