U.K. Government told to put £20 tax on kitchen knives to deter knife crime

A retired judge has penned an open letter to the Chancellor, urging her to introduce a tax on pointed kitchen knives in the Budget. Former circuit judge Nic Madge is advocating for a tax of approximately £20 on pointed knives to deter consumers from using them, drawing parallels with the charges imposed on plastic bags.

He stated: “Some people call for a ban on new pointed kitchen knives, but expert chefs, butchers and fishmongers need them. An easier and less controversial method would be to create a price differential. The imposition of a 5p charge for single use plastic bags rendered them obsolete.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/government-told-put-20-tax-32934015

Tax kitchen knives to save lives, judge tells Reeves
Campaigners call for a £20 levy on pointed blades to reduce the risk of more killings like Southport

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/11/24/tax-pointed-knives-in-budget-plea/

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