UK Outlaws Ninja Swords Following Fatal Stabbing

PUBLISHED 8 AUGUST 2025

Tragedy Sparks Crackdown on Straight-Bladed Weapons

The UK government has moved to outlaw the possession, sale, supply, and importation of so-called “ninja swords” following the tragic death of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda in Wolverhampton. Ronan had visited a friend’s house to buy a PlayStation controller and was just minutes from home when he was attacked in a case of mistaken identity. He was fatally stabbed with a ninja sword purchased online by two teenagers, Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, who were later convicted of his murder.

Under the new legislation, a ninja sword is defined as having a blade between 14 and 24 inches in length, a straight cutting edge, and a tanto-style point. From this month onwards, even possessing such a weapon in private is a criminal offence. Offenders face up to six months in prison, with the maximum sentence set to rise to two years under strengthened measures. Carrying any bladed weapon in public already carries a penalty of up to four years in prison.

"A ninja sword is defined as having a blade between 14 and 24 inches in length, a straight cutting edge, and a tanto-style point."

Police forces have already reported large numbers of these weapons being surrendered during Home Office amnesties. In West Yorkshire, more than 80 bladed weapons were handed in, including 66 ninja swords, while Devon and Cornwall Police reported receiving 287 ninja swords. The crackdown comes amid a wider surge in knife crime across England and Wales. According to Reuters, the number of offences has risen by 87 percent over the past decade, with 54,587 incidents recorded in 2024 alone — a two percent increase from 2023 and among the highest rates in Europe.

For martial artists, collectors, and historians, the new ban presents a serious challenge. While exemptions exist for museums and certain theatrical productions, traditional ninjutsu practitioners who incorporate straight-bladed swords into kata or demonstrations will now have to adapt. Many will turn to wooden replicas to preserve training methods while staying within the law.

The Home Office has emphasised that the legislation aims to prevent further tragedies like Ronan’s, citing the ease of online purchase and the appeal of these weapons to teenagers as a pressing concern.