The Daily T ‘My teenage son was killed by a ninja sword. I had to fight to ban them’
Jan 30, 2026
Pooja Kanda, campaigning mother who fought for 'Ronan's Law' after her son Ronan was killed by a ninja sword. Martin Evans, crime editor who analyzes knife-crime data and trends. They discuss the rise of deadly blades like zombie knives, how online sellers and loopholes enable youth access, the law banning ninja swords, and wider trends and responses in UK knife crime.
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Recorded Crimes Understate Reality
- Martin Evans warns police-recorded knife offences undercount true incidents due to non-reporting by victims.
- He cites homicide and hospital data as more reliable indicators of knife violence trends.
Design Increases Lethality
- Martin Evans notes zombie knives are designed to cause extreme lacerations and are more lethal than standard blades.
- He links their popularity to gang status and the intent to intimidate or kill.
Use A Public-Health Model
- Martin Evans outlines a public-health approach: diagnose causes and deploy youth workers in A&E and custody suites.
- He recommends early intervention in schools and trauma settings to divert at-risk young people.