The mum of a teenager who was stabbed to death with a ninja sword has pleaded with MPs to finally ban the dangerous weapons.
Pooja Kanda, whose son Ronan died after being attacked with a 20 inch blade, says she hopes the Government “listens to the cries” of grieving parents like her. Ronan, 16, was attacked in a case of mistaken identity as he walked home in Wolverhampton in June 2022.
Labour will attempt to strengthen the Government’s Criminal Justice Bill so it includes a comprehensive ban on the weapons. Ms Kanda said: “My Ronan should have been able to come home that day, and everyone should be able to walk freely in their neighbourhoods without the threat of bumping into someone with a deadly weapon.
“How many more innocent people must tragically lose their lives before the Government listens to the cries of grieving parents such as myself, which have thus far only been heard by the Labour Party?”
She called on MPs to get behind a ban ahead of a vote in the Commons, stating: “The Government has a fundamental responsibility to prioritize public safety and they must target the widespread availability of these weapons by supporting Labour’s amendment for a ban on ninja swords today.”
Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it is “inexplicable” the Tories have failed to outlaw the ninja knives. Last month 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin became the latest victim when he was killed with a sword in Hainault.
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PA Wire)
Ms Cooper demanded immediate action to stop the tragedies. Last month 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin became the latest victim when he was killed with a sword in Hainault. Ms Cooper demanded immediate action to stop the tragedies.
Ms Cooper told the Mirror: “Today MPs of all parties have an opportunity to do right by our young people and ban these lethal blades once and for all. A failure to do so would ignore the threat these dangerous weapons pose to communities right across the country…. It’s time for the Tories to end the warm words and take real action to protect our young people.”
Ms Cooper said that knife crime, which has risen by 80% since 2015, is “devastating families and communities in every part of the country”. Critics say the Bill is full of loopholes that mean it will still be legal to buy ninja swords in shops and online. Ronan’s killer was able to buy a knife online using his mum’s name and collect it from the Post Office with no ID checks being carried out.
The Labour amendment, put forward by Shadow Policing Minister Alex Norris, would put a ban in place for ninja swords, also known as katana or ninjato weapons. These are described as a single-edged straight blade of up to 60cm in length with a long hilt or guard.
The amendment proposes an exemption for weapons for sporting use or for possession as antiques. Ronan’s mum Pooja previously told the Sunday Mirror that loopholes in the Government’s Bill make the legislation “futile”. She said: “We urge the Government to include swords and also bring forward the legislation. It’s heartbreaking to see another life lost.
“Unfortunately, that sword, as well as many other dangerous variations, are still available for purchase. Even after our petition got 10,000 signatures, the Government has yet to provide a reasonable explanation for why ninja swords were not included. The perpetrator of my son’s murder had over 25 blades he bought online. It was easy then and unfortunately it is easy now. I will continue to advocate for the prohibition of swords.”
The demand comes as the Government announced it is ploughing £3.5million into developing hi-tech cameras that can detect if people are concealing knives. It will also roll out more facial recognition units in London to address the rising number of blades on the streets.
Home Secretary, James Cleverly said: “Knife crime ruins lives and recent tragedies show there’s a lot more to be done to take these dangerous weapons off our streets.
“That’s why we’re taking a joint approach and announcing further measures to tackle these heinous crimes. No technology can replace the presence of officers on our streets, but as criminals develop new strategies towards crime, so must we.
“New technologies are already revolutionising how we fight crime and we are going even further to give police the solutions they need to keep us safe.”