Birmingham City Council Reaffirms Commitment to Tackling Knife Crime Following Introduction of Ronan’s Law

Birmingham City Council welcomes the introduction of Ronan’s Law, a landmark initiative by the UK Government aimed at closing dangerous loopholes in the online sale of knives and strengthening protections for young people. The law is named in memory of Ronan Kanda, a 16-year-old tragically killed in Wolverhampton in 2022 in a case of mistaken identity, after his teenage attackers illegally purchased lethal weapons online without any age or identity verification.

Under Ronan’s Law, the Government has introduced:

• Mandatory reporting of bulk or suspicious knife purchases by online retailers to police.
• Stricter penalties for selling knives to under-18s, increasing the sentence from 6 months to up to 2 years.
• New offences, including possession of an offensive weapon with intent to cause violence, carrying a sentence of up to 4 years, regardless of whether the weapon is legal.
• A two-step ID verification system for online knife sales, requiring photo ID at both point of sale and delivery.
• A proposed registration scheme for online knife retailers to ensure only responsible sellers operate.
• £1 million investment in a dedicated police unit to monitor illegal knife sales on social media platforms.

These measures reflect the tireless campaigning of Ronan’s family, particularly his mother Pooja and sister Nikita, who have called for greater accountability and safeguards to prevent similar tragedies.

Birmingham’s Local Response

In alignment with Ronan’s Law, Birmingham City Council continues to lead proactive efforts to reduce knife and weapon crime across the city. As part of the Government’s national weapon surrender campaign in July 2025, Birmingham hosted multiple surrender opportunities, including:

• Permanent weapon surrender bins located across the city
• A mobile surrender van stationed at Handsworth Park on 2 July
• Collaboration with West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner to promote safe disposal and community engagement

Councillor Mick Brown, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said:

“Ronan’s Law is a powerful step forward in protecting our young people. Birmingham stands united in our mission to remove weapons from our streets and provide safe avenues for surrender. Every weapon surrendered is a life potentially saved.

“We know that young people are disproportionately affected by knife crime —whether as victims, perpetrators, or witnesses. That’s why we’re investing in early intervention programmes, working with schools, youth services, and community groups to educate and empower.

“The introduction of stricter controls on online knife sales is long overdue, and we commend the Government for listening to the voices of bereaved families like Ronan’s. Locally, we will continue to amplify these efforts by making weapon surrender accessible, visible, and supported by trusted community leaders.”

Residents can continue to surrender weapons anonymously in community surrender bins, which are regularly monitored and emptied. These bins are located across Birmingham and are part of a broader strategy to reduce violence and improve public safety.

Councillor Jamie Tennant, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, added:

“We are proud to support national legislation with strong local action. Our communities deserve to feel safe, and we will continue working with partners to raise awareness, support early intervention, and promote peace.

“Knife crime is not just a policing issue, it’s a social justice issue. It affects families, schools, and entire neighbourhoods. That’s why our approach is rooted in prevention, education, and community resilience.

“The weapon surrender bins are a practical and symbolic tool demonstrating change is possible, and that people can make a choice to step away from violence. We urge anyone carrying a weapon to use these bins and help us build a safer Birmingham for everyone.”

For more information on surrender bin locations and how to safely dispose of weapons, visit the West Midlands PCC website.