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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of police powers in responding to suspected offences committed by diplomatic mission staff where evidence is withdrawn into inviolable diplomatic premises.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of police powers in responding to suspected offences committed by diplomatic mission staff where evidence is withdrawn into inviolable diplomatic premises.
The Government recognises that, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), the premises of a diplomatic mission are inviolable. The UK complies with its international obligations under the VCDR. Where appropriate, law enforcement authorities may seek a waiver of inviolability from the sending State through established diplomatic channels.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risks associated with the unlawful importation of prohibited weapons using diplomatic privileges, including but not limited to diplomatic consignments protected under the Vienna Convention.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risks associated with the unlawful importation of prohibited weapons using diplomatic privileges, including but not limited to diplomatic consignments protected under the Vienna Convention.
The Government recognises that, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), diplomatic bags and certain diplomatic consignments are afforded specific immunities. The UK complies with its international obligations under the VCDR, and there are long-established rules concerning the use of diplomatic consignments which we expect all states to adhere to. Relevant authorities continually assess and manage the risks of misuse of diplomatic privileges, including for the unlawful importation of prohibited weapons.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the incident involving the alleged use of prohibited weapons that took place at the Chinese Embassy in London on 3 July 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the incident involving the alleged use of prohibited weapons that took place at the Chinese Embassy in London on 3 July 2026.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that their investigation continues as officers review evidence, including video footage supplied by witnesses. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to enforce the prohibition of zombie-style knives.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to enforce the prohibition of zombie-style knives.
Zombie-Style knives and machetes were banned from sale and possession on 24 September 2024. Under new provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026, anyone caught selling or possessing such a weapon, where a legal defence does not apply, may face up to 2 years imprisonment, a fine, or both. The provisions in the 2026 Act will be brought into force shortly.
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 will also provide the police with the power to issue content removal notices to require social media companies, online marketplaces, and search services to remove unlawful knife and offensive weapons content. Failure to remove this content could result in both the company and a designated senior executive facing significant penalties. This meets the Government’s manifesto commitment to hold the senior executives of online companies accountable for flouting the rules around online knife sales.
The Government is also providing £2m funding in 2026/07 to the new police unit, the National Knife Crime Centre (NKCC), to tackle the illegal online sale of knives. The NKCC coordinates policing activities and investigations into unlawful online knife and offensive weapons sales. It also acts as a coordination point for industry, including retailers, online companies, Ofcom and Trading Standards. The Centre will also provide the coordinating function for policing for the provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 for the reporting of bulk online sales of knives and the issuing of content removal notices to online companies and platforms to remove unlawful knife and weapons sales content.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the compliance of online retailers with prohibitions on the sale of zombie-style knives and offensive weapons.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the compliance of online retailers with prohibitions on the sale of zombie-style knives and offensive weapons.
Zombie-Style knives and machetes were banned from sale and possession on 24 September 2024. Under new provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026, anyone caught selling or possessing such a weapon, where a legal defence does not apply, may face up to 2 years imprisonment, a fine, or both. The provisions in the 2026 Act will be brought into force shortly.
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 will also provide the police with the power to issue content removal notices to require social media companies, online marketplaces, and search services to remove unlawful knife and offensive weapons content. Failure to remove this content could result in both the company and a designated senior executive facing significant penalties. This meets the Government’s manifesto commitment to hold the senior executives of online companies accountable for flouting the rules around online knife sales.
The Government is also providing £2m funding in 2026/07 to the new police unit, the National Knife Crime Centre (NKCC), to tackle the illegal online sale of knives. The NKCC coordinates policing activities and investigations into unlawful online knife and offensive weapons sales. It also acts as a coordination point for industry, including retailers, online companies, Ofcom and Trading Standards. The Centre will also provide the coordinating function for policing for the provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 for the reporting of bulk online sales of knives and the issuing of content removal notices to online companies and platforms to remove unlawful knife and weapons sales content.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of young people carrying offensive weapons.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of young people carrying offensive weapons.
On 1 April 2026 new guidance was published by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to ensure every child caught carrying a knife will be given a mandatory, targeted plan produced by Police and Youth Justice Services to turn them away from crime. It is estimated this will put support in place for around 1,000 children that currently get no support or intervention following being caught in possession of a knife.
We are working to improve multi-agency information sharing, The Serious Violence Duty places a legal requirement on police, local authorities, youth offending teams, health, fire and probation services to work together, analyse the drivers of serious violence in their areas and develop local strategies to tackle it. The Serious Violence Duty is supported by powers to share data and information, helping agencies identify vulnerable young people earlier and provide effective interventions before violence occurs.
The Home Office is piloting more than 50 Young Futures Panels to identify children and young people at risk of violence or exploitation and connect them to appropriate support, including mentoring and trusted adult interventions. Through the programme, local areas are supported to commission evidence-informed interventions that respond to local needs.
The 2025 independent evaluation of Violence Reduction Units found that, together with hotspot policing, they have reduced violence among under-25s, preventing an estimated 3,750 hospital admissions for violent injury and 550 admissions for assault with a sharp object since 2019.
We are also taking action in response to concerns about children being vulnerable to gang exploitation. The Home Office is funding the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to strengthen the intelligence-led law enforcement response to county lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation. Since July 2024, activity coordinated through the County Lines Programme has resulted in over 4,500 deal lines being closed, 12,600 arrests, 6,900 safeguarding referrals and 1,900 knives being seized. Independent evaluation found that the programme reduced hospitalisations resulting from knife stabbings by 25% across key exporter force areas.
The Government continues to encourage police forces to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Sceptre. The operation includes targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps of hotspot areas, surrender of knives, including through amnesty bins, test purchases of knives from retailers, and educational events. The latest phase of Sceptre took place between 18 and 24 May 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps Border Force is taking to prevent illegal bladed weapons from entering the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps Border Force is taking to prevent illegal bladed weapons from entering the UK.
Border Force uses advance data and intelligence to risk assess movements crossing the UK Border; this includes targeting the illegal importation of offensive weapons to prevent their delivery to a UK recipient. Border Force work closely with partners agencies to protect our borders and keep the public safe from harmful weapons.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal bladed weapons Border Force has seized at UK ports of entry in each of the last three years.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal bladed weapons Border Force has seized at UK ports of entry in each of the last three years.
Border Force uses advance data and intelligence to risk assess movements crossing the UK Border; this includes targeting the illegal importation of offensive weapons to prevent their delivery to a UK recipient. Border Force works with other agencies tirelessly to protect our borders and keep the public safe from harmful or illegal bladed weapons.
Knife seizures are in transparency Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (Knives includes items such as Butterfly Knives, Disguised Knives, Stealth Knives)
2023 Q1: 700
2023 Q2: 742
2023 Q3: 1234
2023 Q4: 1276
2024 Q1: 618
2024 Q2: 890
2024 Q3: 1350
2024 Q4: 389
2025 Q1: 845
2025 Q2: 780
2025 Q3: 958
2025 Q4: 334
2026 Q1: 1162
2026 Q2: 1567
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help support Dorset Police to tackle antisocial behaviour involving catapults in West Dorset constituency.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help support Dorset Police to tackle antisocial behaviour involving catapults in West Dorset constituency.
The Government shares concerns over the misuse of both manufactured and homemade catapults, whether against people, property or wildlife.
There are a wide range of laws in place to punish those who misuse catapults. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities and other local agencies, including Dorset police, with a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond to anti-social behaviour, including involving catapults. This includes Community Protection Warnings and Notices and Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs).
Under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, if a person carries an offensive weapon in a public place or threatens a person with an offensive weapon, they may face up to 4 years in prison. The definition of an 'offensive weapon' may include a catapult depending on the circumstances of the case.
Where a catapult is used to harm a person, under the Offences against the Person Act 1861, it could be charged as assault occasioning actual bodily harm which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment, or the offence of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Specific to animals and birds, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales and there are a range of other offences found in further legislation to protect wild animals from cruelty such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
We have noted proposals for new restrictions, and we are actively considering what more might be done
Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
My Lords, this order seeks to amend the definition of “ninja sword” in the list of prohibited offensive weapons contained in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988.
I will briefly set out the context. Noble Lords will recognise the campaigning by the family of Ronan Kanda, who was...
My Lords, this order seeks to amend the definition of “ninja sword” in the list of prohibited offensive weapons contained in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988.
I will briefly set out the context. Noble Lords will recognise the campaigning by the family of Ronan Kanda, who was...
My Lords, the order has been brought before Parliament to correct an error in a previous piece of secondary legislation—the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment, Surrender and Compensation) (England and Wales) Order 2025—which we debated on 5 June 2025. As the Minister said, the previous order banned so-called...
My Lords, the order has been brought before Parliament to correct an error in a previous piece of secondary legislation—the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment, Surrender and Compensation) (England and Wales) Order 2025—which we debated on 5 June 2025. As the Minister said, the previous order banned so-called...
I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Gower, for his broad support for the original and existing orders. I am indebted to him for his contribution to this debate.
In 2024, the Government consulted on new legislative proposals on ninja swords, which were agreed last year, as the...
I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Davies of Gower, for his broad support for the original and existing orders. I am indebted to him for his contribution to this debate.
In 2024, the Government consulted on new legislative proposals on ninja swords, which were agreed last year, as the...
Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of online trends involving catapults on West Dorset consistency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of online trends involving catapults on West Dorset consistency.
The Government recognises concerns about potentially harmful online trends, including those involving weapons or harmful behaviour.
The Online Safety Act 2023 requires social media and search services to assess and mitigate the risks of illegal activity on their platforms, including taking action against content linked to the unlawful use of weapons or other criminal activity.
Services must also protect children from harmful content. This includes content which encourages dangerous challenges, violence, or other behaviours likely to result in serious harm. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, has strong enforcement powers to hold platforms accountable where they fail to comply.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with social media companies about the availability of content involving weapons, including catapults.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with social media companies about the availability of content involving weapons, including catapults.
The Government has taken robust action to clamp down on illegal content online, including material involving weapons and animal cruelty.
Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must take proactive steps to reduce the risk of illegal content, including the promotion of harm to animals or the illegal use of weapons, and remove such content when identified.
Ofcom is responsible for enforcing compliance with these duties and has wide-ranging enforcement powers including issuing significant fines. We engage regularly with social media companies regarding their duties under the Online Safety Act.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle harmful online trends promoting the use of catapults to harm animals.
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle harmful online trends promoting the use of catapults to harm animals.
The Government has taken robust action to clamp down on illegal content online, including material involving weapons and animal cruelty.
Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must take proactive steps to reduce the risk of illegal content, including the promotion of harm to animals or the illegal use of weapons, and remove such content when identified.
Ofcom is responsible for enforcing compliance with these duties and has wide-ranging enforcement powers including issuing significant fines. We engage regularly with social media companies regarding their duties under the Online Safety Act.