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On the 29th of June 2022, my only son, Ronan, was walking home on a bright summer’s evening when two boys, aged sixteen at the time, came from behind and stabbed him twice — once through his abdomen and once straight through his heart — with a 22‑inch ninja sword. One of Ronan’s murderers had bought the weapon online and collected it on the day of the attack using a fake ID at the post office. I knew this could not be allowed to continue. How can retailers selling such weapons operate without consequence, offering items clearly designed to harm or kill? Workers so carelessly hand over dangerous weapons without checking ID? I had so many questions which I needed answers and change. I first met Sir Keir Starmer at the back of a café near Euston when he was Leader of the Opposition. At that time, I had very little faith in politicians. When I received the news that he had agreed to meet me, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found instead was someone who genuinely listened to a grieving mother fighting for what was right. The ninja sword that took my son’s life was still being sold, and the retailer responsible faced no consequences due to loopholes under the previous government. Sir Keir Starmer gave me his word that, if he came to power, ninja swords would be banned — a promise that the Prime Minister has kept. Since the Labour Government came into power, they have made tackling knife crime a central mission — determined to quickly turn the tide on this devastating epidemic. I have worked with key figures in government to ensure the ban on ninja swords was implemented properly through the introduction of Ronan’s Law. Ronan’s Law not only bans ninja swords but also goes further. It imposes fines of up to £60,000 on tech companies that fail to remove knife-related content and introduces penalties for retailers selling knives to under‑18s. There is now also a two-step ID verification to ensure proper ID checks are completed. The Government has closed key loopholes and confronted the dangerous online weapons market head-on with these new measures. Retailers like the one who sold those weapons to my sons' murderers can no longer operate without consequence. The amnesty scheme, launched about a month before the introduction of Ronan’s Law, has become one of the most successful knife surrender initiatives ever seen. The Government worked closely with campaigners to create an all-inclusive surrender programme that involved young people, community leaders, and local organisations to help remove dangerous weapons — including ninja swords and other bladed articles — from our streets. In collaboration with FazAmnesty, over 7,000 weapons were surrendered through the amnesty van, while additional surrender bins were placed across the country in high‑risk areas such as London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands. A dedicated amnesty bin in Ronan’s memory was installed in Wolverhampton — something I deeply cherish as part of my son’s lasting legacy. The Government’s dedicated task force on reducing knife-enabled robberies has already made a measurable impact, contributing to a 10% national decrease across the most affected areas. In our home region, the West Midlands, police recorded the largest fall — nearly 30% — equating to 771 fewer robberies. This demonstrates that real change is possible when communities and government unite behind a shared goal. The Government’s Young Futures programme also shows a firm commitment to prevention, focusing on tackling the root causes of violence before they escalate. This initiative identifies young people in schools who may be vulnerable to exploitation or criminal behaviour and provides guidance, mentorship, and support before it is too late. By investing in early intervention, education, and community resilience, the Government is taking meaningful steps to stop violence at its source and offer young people a better path forward. Before I am a knife crime campaigner, I am a grieving mother. I grieve my beautiful, kind son Ronan every single day. My boy was full of hope, dreams, and a bright future. We cannot keep losing our young futures like this. This Government has allowed me to stand up for what is right and has worked with me to deliver more than I could ever have asked for — to protect others and honour my beautiful boy’s legacy. This Government represents hope, and I stand firmly behind its mission to halve knife crime within a decade. The significance of Ronan’s Law is immense, and the impact it has already made is immeasurable. I urge the Government not to take its foot off the accelerator. Ministers must continue working closely with campaigners, families, and communities to maintain this progress and deliver further change. I am truly grateful to this Government for establishing a strong law in my son’s name.
