From today, Friday, August 1, 2025, it is illegal to own, make, sell or import ninja swords in England and Wales.
A ninja sword is defined as having a blade between 14in to 24in (35cm to 60cm) in length, with a tanto or reversed tanto-style point and a possible second blade attached at an angle.
Under the new government rules, those found in unlawful possession of a ninja sword fitting the criteria, even in a private address, could face up to six months in prison – potentially increasing to two years.
There is already a penalty of up to four years in prison for carrying any weapon in public.
During the month of July, a national surrender scheme was launched to allow people to hand in the weapons to police stations without any repercussion.
Prohibited weapons items already on the banned list include zombie knives, machetes, butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland Matt Storey said: “There is no place for these dangerous and offensive weapons in our society or on our streets.
“When carried by people with criminal intent, they can have fatal and life-changing consequences.
“Tackling knife crime in Cleveland remains a multi-agency approach beyond just police enforcement, but every weapon taken out of circulation is potentially a life saved.
“Through our Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence (CURV), we will continue to dig out the root causes of knife crime, focusing on education, prevention and support to address this behaviour.”