My son's murderer got his weapon at a Post Office we must stop it happening again

"Four years ago, I lost my son to a horrific knife attack in which he didn't stand a chance, said Ms Kanda. I saw the ninja sword, I couldn't believe it, and it still haunts me to this day. If these measures were in place today, Ronan would have been here. That's what keeps me going, it keeps me fighting to save other children who are at risk to this awful knife situation we have."

"On the same day of the brutal murder, one of his killers, Prabjeet Veadhesa, a boy from his school, collected the 22-inch weapon over a Post Office counter, without any ID or age checks, after using an adult's credit card to purchase it online. The tragic death took place almost four years ago, but now Ms Kanda, speaking on the eve of receiving an OBE at Buckingham Palace for her work to prevent knife crime, believes progress is finally being made to address systemic failures."

Sixteen-year-old Ronan Kanda was murdered four years ago after being stabbed through the heart with a 22-inch ninja sword in a case of mistaken identity near his Wolverhampton home. The weapon was bought online with an adult's card and collected from a Post Office without ID or age checks by one of the attackers, a schoolmate. New measures include Ronan's Law banning sale, manufacture and import of ninja swords, amendments to require ID checks at collection points in the Crime and Policing Bill, and a government consultation on licensing sellers and importers with age verification and secure packaging. Pooja Kanda will receive an OBE for work preventing knife crime.

Read at www.independent.co.uk