UK set to ban ninja swords

Legislation: Bid to curb what government calls 'National knife crime crisis'

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Possessing a ninja sword is to be banned in the UK and carry a penalty of up to six months in jail, the British government said yesterday, in a bid to curb what it has called a "national" knife crime "crisis".

The Home Office said most ninja swords had a blade of between 36 and 61cm, with one straight cutting edge and a tanto style - or sharply-angled - tip.

From 1 August, anyone caught in possession of a ninja sword in private could face six months in prison. That is set to rise to two years under forthcoming legislation.

There is already a penalty of up to four years in prison for carrying any weapon in public.