UK Eyes Online Knife Licenses to Curb Teen Crime

On April 2nd, UK ministers are eyeing new licenses for selling knives online to stop kids

from scoring blades on the grey market.

Police are sounding the alarm over young people boke buying hundreds from legit retailers

then flipping them for profit on apps like Snapchat and Telegram, ignoring buyers' ages

or plans.

They're launching the National Knife Crime Center to date in London, aiming to slash knife

attacks in half over the next 10 years.

It's already against the law to sell to under 18s, but these teen hustlers are turning

it into a side gig, exporting the online hustle culture.

Policing minister Sarah Jones called it devastating how crooks rope kids into the game, and

she's open to a licensed system that checks sellers and purposes, while keeping it smooth

for farmers or martial artists who need blades legit.

Families hit hard by knife violence are pushing back too.

Hujakonda, who lost her 16-year-old son Ronan to an engine knife attack in Wolverhampton

two years ago, wants sellers held accountable to keep.

Weapons out of wrong hands, no more loopholes.

Meanwhile, penalties need fixing, just up to six months for selling to kids, versus four

years for possession.

The Southport killer snank his weapon online, easy at age 17, and with a CPS review showing

solid prosecutions but room to toughen up.

A. Consultation on licenses is rolling now.

As the inquiry report drops in two weeks.