liability measures for senior executives of online platforms and marketplaces that fail to act on illegal content related to knives and offensive weapons.
The consultation, which runs from 13 November to 11 December 2024, seeks views from the public and directly affected parties, including the police, Crown Prosecution Service, businesses, retailers, and community organisations. While the proposals primarily apply to England and Wales, the government will work closely with devolved administrations to assess potential impacts in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The initiative follows a manifesto commitment to impose tougher sanctions on senior executives of online companies that fail to comply with laws concerning the online sale of knives. The government proposes introducing personal liability measures aimed at holding senior executives accountable for the removal of illegal content on their platforms.
Knife crime remains a significant concern across the UK, with a government pledge to halve knife crime within a decade. While knife-enabled criminality decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, the police have since recorded a 4% rise in knife-related violent offences in the year ending June 2024, totalling 50,973 offences compared to 49,187 in the previous year.
The government argues that online platforms and marketplaces have a duty to tackle illegal knife sales and related content proactively. The consultation marks the next step in its effort to ensure greater accountability and tougher enforcement of existing laws.Responses to the consultation should be sent to personal-liability-online-execs-consultation@homeoffice.gov.uk by 11 December 2024. Any legislation resulting from the consultation will require agreement with devolved administrations where devolved matters are concerned.
You can read the full December 2024 issue below:
