Replica samurai sword ban proposed

The sale, import and hire of replica samurai swords could be banned by the end of the year, under a new proposal announced by the government.

The proposal is outlined in a consultation paper issued by the Home Office, which aims to take dangerous weapons out of circulation.

The paper recommends that replica samurai swords should be added to the offensive weapons order, which would prohibit their sale, hire and import.

Those who breach the prohibition would face up to six months in prison and a maximum fine of £5,000.

There is currently a maximum jail sentence of four years in place for carrying a samurai sword in a public place.

There have been around 80 serious crimes involving imitation samurai swords in England and Wales over the last four year.

There are currently 17 weapons on the offensive weapons order, including knuckle-dusters and batons.

Commenting on the proposal, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "Public safety is our greatest priority. Samurai sword crime is low in volume but high in profile and I recognise it can have a devastating impact. Banning the sale, import and hire will take more dangerous weapons out of circulation, making our streets safer.

"We recognise it is the cheap, easily available samurai swords which are being used in crime and not the genuine, more expensive samurai swords which are of interest to collectors and martial art enthusiasts.

"It is already illegal to have a samurai sword in a public place but I want to restrict the number of dangerous weapons in circulation to enhance community safety."

Groups such as the To-ken Society of Great Britiain and the British Kendo Association would be exempt from the new proposals.

Exemptions would cover genuine collectors' swords made in Japan before the existing licensing regime came into force in 1953 or those made by licensed Japanese swordsmiths since that time, as well as specific weapons used in martial arts or samurai swords used in sport.

(KMcA)