Actor and campaigner Idris Elba has urged the UK government to consider banning kitchen knives with pointed ends as part of efforts to tackle the rising knife crime crisis. Speaking ahead of the release of his BBC documentary Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, the 52-year-old actor emphasized the need for innovative solutions, arguing that pointed knives are unnecessary for domestic use.Elba's proposal follows the government’s ban on zombie knives and machetes in September, but he believes further measures are needed. “Not all kitchen knives need to have a point on them. You can still cut food without the point, which is an innovative way to look at it,” he told the BBC.His suggestion has gained backing from trauma doctors, police officers, judges, and Church of England bishops. While a Home Office source acknowledged it as an “interesting idea”, the proposal is unlikely to be included in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill.In response to increasing knife-related violence, the UK government is implementing stricter regulations on online knife sales. The new rules will require two-stage age verification checks, preventing knives from being delivered to anyone other than the original purchaser. Social media companies will also face fines of up to £10,000 for failing to remove content that promotes knife crime.According to recent statistics, knife-related offences in the UK rose by 4% last year, with 50,973 incidents reported. Teenage homicides involving knives accounted for 75% of cases, and 507 children were treated for knife injuries in England alone.Elba, a key member of the prime minister’s Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, has worked closely with ministers to explore solutions. His documentary, airing on BBC1, delves into the realities of knife crime and the role of social media in weapon accessibility.
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