Petition
Review the Legal Public Carry of Kirpans in the UK
Rejected
21 signatures
What the petition asks
We urge the UK Government to reconsider and revise current legislation which allows the public possession of kirpans and other religious blades under exemptions found in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.
We therefore ask Parliament to:
-Examine the religious exemptions found under s. 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and corresponding sections under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.
-Implement stricter regulations on the lengths of blades on permitted ceremonial items.
-State that ceremonial blades, blunt, secured or only permitted within a place of worship or religious ceremony.
-Ensure that all UK citizens are equal under the law regarding bladed articles.
-Examine the religious exemptions found under s. 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and corresponding sections under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.
-Implement stricter regulations on the lengths of blades on permitted ceremonial items.
-State that ceremonial blades, blunt, secured or only permitted within a place of worship or religious ceremony.
-Ensure that all UK citizens are equal under the law regarding bladed articles.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
You may wish to sign this petition, which calls for similar action: “Ban carrying religious, cultural & ceremonial bladed & pointed items in public” Ban carrying religious, cultural & ceremonial bladed & pointed items in public
Timeline
| 29 May 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 19 Jun 2026 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
21
Status
Rejected
Rejected
19 Jun 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 27 Jul 2026.