The British government said the Japanese samurai swords will be banned from next April because the weapons have been used in a number of serious, high-profile attacks, media reports said Friday.
The curved, single-edged Japanese blades have been involved in about 80 serious crimes in England and Wales in recent years. It is available for only 35 pounds (about 70 U.S. dollars) on UK websites.
Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said, "In the wrong hands, samurai swords are dangerous weapons - there have been a number of high profile, serious incidents involving samurai swords in England and Wales in recent years. It is therefore crucial that we take this action to tackle the menace of violent crime."
The Association of Chief Police Officers said the swords are not a common weapon but they have been used in a number of significant incidents.
At present, 17 weapons including knuckle-dusters and batons are banned under offensive weapons rules in UK.
Under the new rules, anyone importing, selling or hiring out the swords will face up to six months in prison or a 5,000 pounds (about 10,000 dollars) fine. Carrying a samurai sword in a public place already carries a maximum jail sentence of four years.
Source: Xinhua
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