Extra weapon surrender bin installed in Wolverhampton ahead of new law banning ninja swords
Ninja sword owners have just a few days left to surrender weapons ahead of a change in the law that was pushed for by the family of murdered teenager Ronan Kanda.
From this Friday (August 1) Ronan's Law will mean that such blades will be effectively banned following a series of killings. Ronan’s Law outlaws the manufacture, supply, sale, possession and importation of ninja swords.
The legislation was introduced after the 16-year-old's mother Pooja Kanda started an knife-crime campaign. Her son was stabbed by two teenagers in a case of mistaken identity in Lanesfield in June 2022.
Ahead of the changes an additional knife surrender bin has been installed in the city. It is located in the grounds of St Joseph’s Church, at 252 Coalway Road, Merry Hill.
Others can be found at New Testament Church of God community centre, Wednesfield Road, Heath Town; Tabernacle Baptist Church, Dunstall Road, Whitmore Reans; Morrisons off Black Country Route, Bilston; St Chad and St Mark’s Church in Lime Street, Merridale; Brierley Hill police station, Bank Street, Brierley Hill; Bloxwich Police Station, Station Street, Bloxwich; Wolverhampton Police Station, Bilston Street; and Sutton Coldfield Police Station, Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield.
The national Surrender and Compensation Scheme opened earlier this month to allow people to hand over their weapons without prosecution and it closes on Thursday (July 31). The scheme allows people to hand in swords that fall within the new legislation at police stations, in return for an application for compensation.
As part of the initiative 43 designated police stations across England and Wales are accepting swords including nine in the West Midlands.
Mrs Kanda was appointed an OBE in this year's King's Birthday Honours List for her campaign to ban online knife sales. The family were among a number of anti-knife crime campaigners to be recognised for their tireless efforts to save lives.
