UK government confirms crackdown on knife content online

The announcement follows a public consultation carried out in late 2024 aimed at establishing personal liability for senior executives of online platforms and marketplaces which fail to remove illegal content related to large knives, machetes and other offensive weapons from online platforms and marketplaces.

In its response to the consultation, the Home Office confirmed it will introduce legislation that will grant police the necessary powers to issue content removal notices (CRNs) to online platforms and marketplaces to remove this type of illegal content within 48 hours. In its response, the government also extended the measures to include online search services. CRNs issued to online search services will require the removal of search results in the UK which link to illegal content relating to the sale of knives and offensive weapons.

The legislation will be introduced through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill and will establish a £1.75 million funded police unit to issue CRNs to tackle the sale of knives online The proposed measures are in addition to the structures established through the 2023 Online Safety Act to regulate the online space, but are specifically targeted at granting police powers to remove specific pieces of content relating to the sale of illegal knives and weapons and the illegal marketing of knives.

These measures also follow earlier commitments outlined by the Labour government in its 2024 election manifesto to halve knife crime in the UK over the next decade and introduce tough sanctions against senior executives of online companies who flout the law on the online sale of knives.

Under the most recent proposals, companies will be obliged to name a senior executive responsible for complying with the CRN when requested by the police. Failing to do so will lead to a civil penalty notice (CPN) of up to £60,000. If a company ultimately does not comply with a CRN, the police will decide whether to issue a CPN of up to £60,000 against the company and of up to £10,000 against the designated senior executive.

Under the proposals, online companies and designated executives will also have the right to ask police to review content renewal notices and make representations before being issued with a CPN.