And then they came for our Steak Knives…

Knife crime in London is on the rise in the last year, according to the BBC:

There were 37,443 offences in the 12 months ending in September 2017, a 21% increase on the previous year and the highest number since 2011, the earliest point for which comparable data is available.

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced new Knife control policies, including putting knife wands in every school and granting extra stop and search powers for the Met Police in areas deemed worst-affected.

He took his message to Twitter:

No excuses: there is never a reason to carry a knife. Anyone who does will be caught, and they will feel the full force of the law. https://t.co/XILUvIFLOW

— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) April 8, 2018

Some reactions were somewhat skeptical:

Yes, We know you’ll come down hard on the ones trying to protect themselves unlike all those criminals you’ve got running around believing London is their playground. Good play.

— Chica'sBailBonds (@irinamoises) April 8, 2018

So, what’s next? Hammers? Mallets? Sharpened sticks? Evil stares?

— SilverPatriot (@SilverPatriot1) April 8, 2018

Only in urban regions do you think of knives as offensive weapons. In rural areas knives are simply tools for cutting objects, NOT people. I don't need any 'excuse' to be carrying one and I use every day. ??

— David J Butler ??? (@DavidButler34) April 8, 2018

Others were more receptive to the idea:

Isn't it time that we consider common sense knife control legislation?

— Han Estly (@R_U_BeingHonest) April 9, 2018

Common sense knife control!

— sean (@ZurekSean) April 9, 2018

Authors note: I tried to find 3 sources of positive tweets to balance this story out, but after 20 minutes I gave up after only finding two.

The UK Governments website also reports that new legislation is in the works to ban anyone from buying a knife online, as well as making it illegal to possess “zombie knives” and “knuckledusters” in private.

I’ll let this tweet speak for itself.

That feeling when you’re eating a steak in London. pic.twitter.com/1xXrZ3V2mX

— Matt’s Idea Shop (@MattsIdeaShop) April 8, 2018