Taking knives out of society? Is it possible?

[Badluckstreak]

would it be possible to make it a legal requirement to have a license in order to own a knife that’s over an inch long? I know it sounds crazy at first but we could replace kitchen knives with kiddicutter knives throughout the country? Restaurants and cafes would be exempt, but people need a police check to work there. I think it’s potentially a good idea. Thoughts?

You can't have carpet you could friction burn someone to death 🤭

As a previous poster said, what you suggest came from a place of caring. That is a good thing.

I'm not sure any of this is funny.

Ever heard of a shiv? It's stupid easy to make a knife out of common household items. YABVVVVVU.

It's not a dumb idea, you're looking for solutions. The Tories slashed funding for initiatives that dealt with knife crime and cut funding to the police. I think Johnson got rid off 20,000 police.

Many children carry knives because they feel unsafe. Children are influenced by social media and gang culture. There's not much to do in deprived areas and gang life looks glamorous.

We need more investment, more police and to reopen the charities who were working with young boys.

I'm going to guess that you've never tried to peal and cut up a raw turnip, sweet or butternut squash then, because if you had you'd understand quite how daft your idea is

I have, I read that Ian Watkins of lost prophets was stabbed with a toilet brush for fucking up it was either for losing a mobile or a drug debt.

It’s a worthwhile discussion because only by raising ideas will a way forward be found.
I do think it should be harder to buy knives. There’s plenty of awful kitchen knives available very cheaply which are no good for cutting veg or meat up but are still dangerous these are useless sorts of knives.
In person sales should have more hassle to buy the knife, which would hopefully put people off

Machetes and jungle type knives are surely not needed at all in the UK so those could just be banned.

Online sales could be made more difficult for knives and other items such as screwdrivers and knitting needles and whatever else is used as a weapon.
I do agree that it’s societal issues driving the problem and it will need a variety of responses to sort out.

@Autumn1990
Machetes and zombie knives were banned in Sept 2024. Kids are still carrying them. They just don't think they'll get caught.
Agricultural machetes are still legal if you're over 18 and working on a farm/are a tree surgeon/gardener. To cut through brambles and bracken on farmland etc you need something bigger than a pruning knife to clear paths quickly.

Saying "ban all sharp edges and knives" is the definition of knee jerk reaction. It doesn't start a conversation it terminates it. Just look above, people are saying that alternatives would be found (look at prisons and shivs made from empty cans. Or loo brushes). If you ban anything that someone could use to harm others then the next logical step is to ban anything you could use to strangle some one. Like a usb cable or a dressing gown belt or the cord in a hoodie. It's missing the fact that 99% of people won't use these things to harm others.

The conversation should be about;
How can we tackle obsessions with extreme violence and glorification of it.
Why so many young people (and it's nearly all boys and men) feel the need to carry knives or other weapons
Why is gang culture so embedded in certain areas with the notions of oppos etc and diss tracks.
How can we identify those who are at risk of carrying out violence whether gang related or on the wider community?

I'd suggest that almost all these questions can be partially or largely addressed for starters with the following
A) closing the inequality gap.
B) mental health support that actually exists
C) more policing and early help/youth justice to be meaningful
D) addressing toxic masculinity

You said it.

You don’t need a knife to stab someone.

We would have to pay for a knife license so would be paying a fee to cook

I work in the agricultural/vegetation management sector and always have done and I’ve never used a machete. I don’t know anyone who has used one or who owns one and I live in a hunting shooting fishing area. Can’t skin a deer or breast out a pheasant with a massive knife. Petrol strimmers with blades are the most popular option for vegetation issues.
There are loads of machetes/jungle knives advertised for sale. Just why.

It’s a stupid idea and the government are using it to deflect.
Any implement can be used as a weapon - will screwdrivers, hammers, axes, tyre irons, razor blades, scissors, craft knives all be banned? An empty tuna tin can be sharpened to make a weapon.

those are all beasts to cut. and if you could only cut an inch in, you'd not even be able to cut one in half.

Add to that eclectic irons, hair straighteners, gas ring, blades from a food processor / blender, mandolin, broken glass bottle, unbroken bottle, toothbrush (easy to make a shiv) drills...

Two of my knives are incredibly sharp and beautiful Damascus steel bought in Japan. I am not giving them up.

Short answer is no.

It's not a government Idea...it's op suggestion.
Knife crime didn't suddenly come into being six months ago when labour won the election.
Gang culture and associated violence needs a fresh approach to stop kids killing kids.

Yes! Also clear out the garden shed, forks, spades, secateurs, hedge trimmer, grass strimmer, lawnmower, crowbar, post cutter. Almost all DIY tools.....

And in reference to Shaun of the dead, LP records.

In our house (and garden shed) we have a range of kitchen knives, craft knives, pen knives, whittling knives, axes, saws, screwdrivers, scissors, dressmaking shears, gardening shears, hammers, chainsaw ... the list of dangerous weapons is endless really. (Plus a sword, but that's only ever cut cake).
But they all have practical uses, which is why we have them.

OP,,Would you suggest after all knives have gone that we then get rid of screwdrivers?

China is super strict about knives since they’ve had several incidents of men coming into primary schools and knifing children. Extremely regulated in buying knives, cannot buy anything not for kitchen use and you are not allowed to carry ANY knife in public. I had a fruit knife confiscated …

I would not be confident in Britain’s ability to solve any of the above. At the end of the day, it’s easier to ban stuff

Further up thread op said her idea wouldn't work.