Amber Rudd reveals fresh crackdown on acid sales amid rise in 'revolting' attacks
2 min read
The Government will ban the sale of corrosives to anyone under the age of 18 in a bid to stem the rise of horrific acid attacks in Britain, Amber Rudd announced today.
The Home Secretary condemned the “absolutely revolting” incidents and announced further measures to restrict the sale of sulphuric acid commonly used in homemade explosives.
According to police figures, assaults involving corrosive substances have more than doubled in England since 2012 – with the vast majority of cases in London.
Calls have been growing to regulate the purchase of strong acid in the wake of the attacks.
Addressing the Conservative conference in Manchester today, Ms Rudd laid out plans to crack down on the dangerous chemicals that had “ruined” so many lives.
“Acid attacks are absolutely revolting. You have all seen the pictures of victims that never fully recover,” she told the hall of Tory activists.
“So today, I am announcing a new offence to prevent the sale of acids to under 18s.
“Furthermore, given its use in the production of so-called ‘mother of Satan’ homemade explosives, I also announce my intention to drastically limit the public sale of sulphuric acid.”
Ms Rudd also said there would be a new ban on people carrying acid in public “if they don’t have a good reason”.
Elsewhere she announced £600,000 of investment in a tool that can remove child abuse images from the internet at speed.
And she pledged new rules to ban the sale of knives to under-18s and ban the possession of certain blades - such as flick knives and zombie knives - at home.
Ms Rudd said: “Acid and knife attacks have an absolutely horrific impact on their victims.
“I am determined that we do all we can to prevent such attacks, and I want to send the strongest possible message that where people break the law in these areas, they will face tough penalties.”
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