The UK law on online sales of offensive weapons, particularly bladed articles like knives, has evolved significantly since the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 received Royal Assent on 16 May 2019.
Key provisions related to online sales came into force on 6 April 2022, extending age verification requirements beyond the point of sale (already mandated under section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988) to also include checks at the point of delivery. Sellers must take reasonable precautions to ensure buyers are over 18, packages containing bladed articles must be clearly labelled, and delivery to residential addresses or lockers is prohibited if the item could be handed to someone under 18. Non-compliance can result in fines or up to 6 months’ imprisonment (increased to 2 years under recent amendments for certain offences).
Further changes were introduced through the Crime and Policing Act 2025, which received Royal Assent in July 2025 and builds on recommendations from the independent end-to-end review of online knife sales published in January 2025. This Act aims to halve knife crime over a decade by tightening controls on remote sales, with most provisions commencing via secondary legislation expected in late 2025 or early 2026. Key enhancements include:
- Stricter Age Verification at Point of Sale and Delivery: Online sellers must verify the buyer’s age using a photographic ID (e.g., passport or UK driving licence) and a current photo to confirm identity. At delivery, couriers must check the recipient’s ID to ensure they are 18+ and the verified buyer—no more “doorstep drops” without in-person checks. Collection points (e.g., lockers or stores) require the same enhanced verification before handover.
- Mandatory Reporting of Bulk Sales: Retailers must report to police any sales of 6 or more bladed articles in a single transaction or multiple transactions by the same buyer/to the same address within 30 days. Exemptions apply to items like disposable razors, small non-locking pocket knives (cutting edge ≤3 inches), and most cutlery (except pointed steak knives). Business-to-business sales are exempt with proof like VAT numbers.
- Platform Accountability and Content Removal: Online marketplaces, social media, and search engines face new duties to remove illegal knife-related content (e.g., ads for prohibited weapons like zombie knives) within 48 hours of police notification. Senior executives can be personally liable, with fines up to £60,000 for companies and £10,000 for individuals.
- Increased Penalties and Police Powers: Offences for selling prohibited weapons or to under-18s now carry up to 2 years’ imprisonment (up from 6 months). Police gain powers to seize bladed items from private premises if suspected for unlawful use, and a new offence of possession with intent to commit violence carries up to 4 years.