Cooper wipes away tears over murder victim as ninja sword ban takes effect
As a ban on the weapons came into effect, the home secretary described the mother of Ronan Kanda, 16, showing her the last moment she shared with her son before he was murdered.
'His mother, Pooja, showed me the CCTV from outside her house. [It was] the last time she saw her son. It was the honour of her showing me their affectionate goodbye … then he goes off and she doesn't see him again,' Ms Cooper told The Times as she wiped away tears.
Ronan was stabbed through the heart with a ninja sword in a case of mistaken identity in Wolverhampton in 2022. CCTV of the attack showed Ronan smiling at his phone with his headphones in when he was attacked with the weapon that two 16-year-olds had bought online.
Pooja went on to launch a campaign urging ministers to ban ninja swords and knives with blades longer than 14 inches, with a single, straight cutting edge and a tanto-style point. She was awarded an OBE in the King's birthday honours for services to knife crime prevention.
Ms Cooper unveiled the ban shortly after Labour came into power last July under a package titled Ronan's Law.
Speaking as it came into effect, she said: 'I can talk you through all the targeted policing we're doing but in the end it is about what [victims'] families are experiencing and the change they want to see.'
Those caught with ninja swords now face up to six months in prison, a sentence which will rise to two years under Labour's Crime and Policing Bill.
'Since day one, we have acted with urgency to turn the tide on knife crime, which destroys lives and devastates communities,' Ms Cooper told The Times.
Reacting to the ban when it was tabled in parliament, Ms Kanda said: 'Since losing our beautiful boy Ronan, we have relentlessly campaigned for a ban on ninja swords – the lethal weapon which took his life.
'We believe ninja swords have no place in our society other than to seriously harm and kill. Each step towards tackling knife crime is a step towards getting justice for our boy Ronan.'
Ninja swords can be handed over in knife-surrender bins or local police stations under a surrender scheme running in July.
Under Ronan's Law, the Home Office has also announced a raft of measures, including making retailers report bulk or suspicious sales to police, and increasing the jail sentence for selling weapons to children, or illegal blades such as zombie knives, to two years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man accused of violent and controlling behaviour — and throttling neighbour
A MAN accused of violent and controlling behaviour towards his partner, and allegedly throttling a neighbour, will have his case heard by an Isle of Wight Crown Court judge Prince Francis, of South Street, Eastbourne, East Sussex, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (July 29). He offered no plea to engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship, by continuously engaging in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, namely that on at least two occasions violence will be used towards his partner. He also faced charges of inflicting actual bodily harm against his partner, and intentional strangulation against a female neighbour. It is alleged the incidents occurred at Totland Bay, between November 30, 2023, and November 20 last year. The 40-year-old was bailed to reappear for a hearing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court, on September 1.
CBS News
36 minutes ago
- CBS News
1 teen killed, 2 others wounded in Coachella shooting
One teenage boy was killed and two others were wounded during a shooting in Coachella on Saturday. It happened at around 3:45 a.m. at a home in the 49000 block of Corte Molino, according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office. "Upon arrival, deputies discovered three adolescent males suffering from apparent gunshot wounds," the release said. One of the boys was declared dead at the scene. He has not yet been identified. The two other victims were taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, deputies said. RSO homicide investigators assumed the investigation and have yet to determine a motive or identify a potential suspect in the incident. No further information was provided as the investigation continues. Anyone who knows more is asked to contact RSO's Thermal Station at (760) 863-8990 or homicide investigators at (951) 955-2777.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
£1 million Inactivity Trailblazer to help York people back into work
A project backed by around £1 million aiming to get more York people into work will focus on people with mental health issues, disabilities, veterans, and early retirees under council plans. Plans for Inactivity Trailblazer funding include helping the unemployed gain skills through archaeology and construction programmes, workplace health checks and help to move young people into work or further education. Cllr Pete Kilbane, York Council's Labour deputy leader and economy spokesperson, said it was a bold step to unlocking hidden talent and ensuring no-one is left behind. But disability rights activist Flick Williams has claimed attempts to remove barriers to work facing those in ill health would not address employers' unwillingness to take them on. It comes as proposals for the £1 million project are set to go before councillors for a decision on Tuesday, August 5. Cllr Pete Kilbane, Labour deputy leader and economy executive member on York Council. Picture is from York Council The funding is part of the £10 million given to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority by the Government to trial efforts to tackle long-term joblessness. The announcement that the region was among eight selected to host Inactivity Trailblazer programmes came as part of wider Government plans to reform the welfare system unveiled in November. They included plans to cut disability benefits which originally aimed to save £5 billion by 2030 but provoked a backlash, leading to them being watered down. RECOMMENDED READING: Library in York to receive £390,000 boost to improve its facilities Plans to close £18.5m shortfall for York Station Gateway scheme approved Tougher restrictions on holiday lets needed amid York housing shortage - council boss Employment Minister Alison McGovern told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in March the Trailblazer and wider reforms aimed to stop people out of work being left on the scrapheap. Official figures show that in York and North Yorkshire, economic inactivity due to long-term sickness rose by 72.2 per cent between 2019 and last year. Government figures show around one in eight young people nationally are not in work, education or training. A York Council report on plans to spend its £1,038,250 share of regional Trailblazer funding stated the situation locally was generally better than national picture. Almost one in five working age people in York, 19.8 per cent, are economically inactive compared to the English average of 21.1 per cent according to council figures. Locally, 5,900 people aged between 16 and 64 are out of work due to health issues but 77.3 per cent of those with physical or long-term conditions are in work. That compares to 65.3 per cent nationally. Plans to spend the Trailblazer funding in York include spending £120,000 to recruit two new Opportunities Brokers who would help people address barriers hindering them getting into work. Supported Pathways helping people into work or with wellbeing through the local Archaeology on Prescription programme and construction skills training is set for £175,000. Tailored support for young carers would receive £18,750, with help getting 16 to 25 year olds with social, emotional or mental health needs into working, learning and training getting £37,500. A programme encouraging early retirees or those considering leaving work before they reach pension age into vacant jobs in the council, further education and other areas would get £62,500. Improving access to jobs for veterans would be backed by £18,750, with Mental Health hubs and talking therapy to support people with severe issues would get £250,000. Efforts to draw together best practice from businesses to create a package of support for employment and recruitment would receive £100,000. A total of 15 schemes specific to York are set to be supported by the one-off funding which runs until the end of March. Council Deputy Leader Cllr Pete Kilbane said it aligned with the authority's ambition to create jobs and grow the local economy. Council Public Health Director Peter Roderick said it was an opportunity to make a difference to lives of those facing barriers to employment due to their health or personal circumstances. Mr Roderick said: 'We're proud to be delivering a programme that puts people first—offering tailored support, improving wellbeing, and helping individuals find meaningful work.' But activist Ms Williams said it the reason many disabled people and carers were out of work was because it was harder for them to get and keep a job. Speaking previously about the proposals, she said: 'If you had spoken to disabled people you may have learned about barriers to work such as inaccessible, unreliable, irregular transport, lack of accessible housing, barriers to obtaining mobility aids, social care support and timely healthcare. 'Where are all the employers willing to employ us, ready to make reasonable adjustments, offer the flexibility to employees to manage our impairment issues, health appointments or caring responsibilities?'
