They want to start confiscating kitchen knives in the UK

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Kitchen knives could be seized from the homes of suspected criminals under a proposed Home Office plan.

Police will be consulted by ministers to allow them extra powers to 'seize, retain and destroy bladed articles' kept in private, even if the knives are 'not on the Home Office's banned list of weapons'.

According to The Telegraph, the move is one of numerous measures created to harden up sentences for selling, importing and possessing knives.

The Ben Kinsella Trust noted an 11 per cent increase in knife crime in England and Wales in the 12 months to September 2022, with police recording 50,434 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument during that period.

A total of 20 knives and similar weapons are banned in the UK, including belt buckle knives, push daggers, spiral knives, butterfly knives, swords and stealth knives.

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Ministers have pointed out that police have their hands tied when raiding suspected criminal's homes if they come across weapons that are not on the banned list, including machetes.

Officers are not allowed to seize weapons if they are not banned, even if they are suspected to have been used in crimes.

Machetes are set to be outlawed under plans to be announced by ministers today.

Sales of the long-bladed weapons will be banned except for legitimate use, such as gardening and outdoor pursuits.

A consultation paper, published by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, suggests the maximum jail term for selling, importing or manufacturing prohibited blades should be increased from six months to two years.

It also sets out proposals to increase the penalties for possessing the weapons.

Changes will ban a wider range of 'zombie' knives, which were made illegal in 2016.

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