Ronan's Law making difference in knife crime battle

CRIMINALS caught carrying blades or linked to violence could be banned from buying deadly weapons, under proposals sent to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

- By Michael Knowles

Police chiefs said a review of online knife sales "highlighted the need" to tighten the laws preventing convicted thugs from ordering blades online.

Outlining the proposal, the National Police Chiefs Council said: "A prohibited person would be someone who has shown a propensity for knife possession and/or violence either from previous cautions, convictions or upon application to a court."

They added: "Trying to source a knife, sell or possess one should be an offence, as would be attempting to buy one on behalf of a prohibited person."