As the Southport Killer, Axel Rudakubana, is given a minimum sentence of 52 years, knife crime remains at the forefront of the national news.

The attacks occurred at a Taylor Swift themed yoga and dance workshop attended by 26 children. Two girls died at the scene, eight others were taken to hospital and a third girl died the following day.

The case was prosecuted as terrorism.

Current knife crime legislation in the UK

It is illegal to use any knife in a threatening way. It is also illegal to carry most knives in a public place without “good reason” and it is illegal to sell most knives to anyone under the age of 18.

The exception to the two rules are:

Folding pocket knives that:

• Have a cutting edge no longer than 3 inches;
• Are not lock knives (they do not have a button, spring or catch that you have to use to fold the knife)

Examples of “good reasons” for having a knife include:

• Use at work;
• Religious reasons;
• Part of any national costume.

Self defence can be a good reason.

Ultimately, it is for a Court to decide what a ‘good reason’ is.

Sentencing for the offence

The maximum sentence for possessing a knife is 4 years imprisonment.

Since 17 July 2025 a person convicted of a second knife offence faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 6 months imprisonment (if aged 18 or over) or at least 4 months detention and training order (if 16 or 17 years). There is no mandatory minimum sentence under 16’s.

The Court must impose these mandatory minimum sentences unless it is “unjust to do so in all of the circumstances”.

Defendants get credit for pleading guilty. For a first knife offence, the maximum credit is 33% whereas for a second strike offence the maximum 20%.

Issues preventing prosecution

Arguably, the biggest issue preventing prosecution of offences is that of a lack of police officers. Police numbers are at an all-time low despite various political drives by various governments.

Unless there are adequate police officers, there is always going to be a bar as to how many offences can be prosecuted. It feels like there is no deterrence by virtue police officers ‘on the beat’.

Gaps in enforcement

A person must be at least 18 years old to purchase a knife.

Most stores selling knives enforce a challenge 25 policy whereby if a person looks under the age of 25 then they should be asked to produce identification confirming that they are 18 years old or older.

Local councils send out test purchase officers to see whether stores are willing to sell knives without customers providing identification.

There are no known statistics as to how many councils send out such officers.

Many of the bigger supermarkets are more easily able to enforce the challenge 25 policy.

In recent years many supermarkets keep knives and bladed articles in locked cabinets, and they can only be purchased if identification is produced, if the person looks under the age of 25.

Prosecution of criminal cases is now taking longer than ever. Trial dates are now listed well into 2028. Are delayed prosecutions contributing to the knife crime culture.

Online sales

A person could purchase a knife set online from any given supplier. Only very recently, the author of this article purchased a set of knives online. As part of the ordering process, he was given a code after he supplied identification to the sellers. The delivery company asked for that code upon delivery and then handed over the package.

It appears that this may be the exception and not the rule.

Other online sales forums may not enforce this so readily. Surely, they should adopt similar policies.

Should councils be given further funding to send out test purchase officers? Would that improve the identification checks that are completed by stores? Most importantly, would it reduce knife crime.

Exemptions

Examples include knives which are over 100 years old (i.e. antique) save for flick knives.  A person under the age of 18 could purchase one of those without the need for identification. There are no statistics as to how many knife related offences actually involve antique knives.

Possible solutions

Aside from increasing police numbers, providing for councils to fund test purchase officers and increasing punitive prison sentences what could be possible solutions?

For many years there have been amnesty bins in local police stations. No police stations inside of the Metropolitan Police have amnesty bins.  Are they effective.

Educating people 

Could more be done to teach school pupils about the impact that knife crime has.

The Probation Service are underfunded and understaffed.  Many people are given non-custodial sentences for carrying a knife but to what degree are they supervised on the impact that carrying a knife has.  Probation officers may supervise thousands of offenders at any one time, how meaningful is the rehabilitation. 

You may think that a solution is imposing tougher sentences. Courts rarely sentence to their maximum powers. Are longer sentences really an effective solution. Surely we need to educate people and there must be funding for that.

Disclaimer: The information on the TV Edwards website is for general information only and reflects the position at the date of publication.