Articles

UK knife sales regulation: Licensing proposals add to crime and policing bill reforms

6 Jan 2026 | 1 minute read

The Government’s Crime and Policing Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, introduces tighter controls on the online sale and delivery of knives and other bladed articles. The Bill strengthens age and identity verification at both the point of sale and delivery, increases penalties for selling knives to under-18s, and requires online retailers to report bulk purchases of knives to the police.

Alongside these legislative changes, the Government is now consulting on the introduction of a licensing regime for both sellers and importers of knives and bladed articles, reflecting ongoing concerns that existing age-restriction laws have not prevented under-18s from accessing knives, particularly online.

Proposed seller and importer licensing

The consultation proposes a seller licensing scheme that would apply to both business and private sellers of knives. Licences would be issued by the police, drawing on their experience of firearms licensing, and larger businesses would be required to appoint a designated licence holder. The scheme would be self-funding through licence fees, with licences renewed periodically and subject to suitability checks. Selling knives without a licence would be a criminal offence.

In parallel, the Government is consulting on the introduction of an import licensing regime for knives and bladed articles. This is intended to prevent sellers from circumventing domestic controls by sourcing products from overseas. Importing knives without the appropriate licence would also be a criminal offence.

Together, the proposals are intended to improve traceability and enforcement, making it easier for the police and Trading Standards to identify where knives have come from and ensure sellers are complying with the law.

If introduced, the proposals could affect a broad range of retailers and suppliers, including DIY, homeware and hospitality businesses for whom knife sales are ancillary to their core products.

The consultation closes on 24 February 2026. Businesses involved in selling or importing knives may wish to consider engaging with the consultation to help shape the final regulatory framework. If you would like our support doing so, please let us know.