UK: Knife Tax

BREAKING NEWS: Former UK Judge Calls for “Knife Tax” to Tackle Rising Violence

LONDON — A dramatic new proposal to curb knife crime has surged into the national spotlight today, after a retired UK judge urged the government to introduce a tax on pointed kitchen knives in an effort to save lives.

In a newly published open letter, former Peterborough judge Nic Madge called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to impose a £20 levy on every pointed kitchen knife over three inches long that is manufactured or imported into the UK.
Madge argues the measure could cut crime, reduce injuries, and nudge the public toward safer, rounded-tip alternatives.

The proposed “knife tax” would function similarly to the plastic-bag charge — a small fee intended to shift behaviour without banning the item outright. According to Madge, the tax would be cost-free to the government and may even generate additional revenue.

The idea arrives as the UK grapples with persistent levels of youth stabbings, gang-related attacks, and domestic knife violence. The government has recently introduced tougher laws on knife sales, expanded weapon surrender schemes, and banned dangerous blades such as zombie knives and ninja swords.
However, the new tax proposal is not an official government policy — at least not yet.

Critics warn the tax could burden ordinary households and question whether raising prices would deter those intent on committing violence. Supporters argue even small shifts in purchasing habits could translate into fewer lethal assaults.

The Treasury has not yet commented on the proposal. But with knife crime remaining one of the UK’s most urgent public-safety challenges, the call for a national knife tax is expected to fuel intense debate in Westminster and beyond in the coming days.

This is a developing story.