INDUSTRY COMMENT: BHETA


DIY AND GARDEN SELLERS MUST RESPOND TO GOVERNMENT’S KNIFE LICENSING CONSULTATION


The latest viewpoint for DIY Week from Steve Edwards, BHETA’s sector manager for DIY and garden. T


he Home Office consultation on knife licensing, which opened on 16 December and closes on 24


February, proposes a mandatory licensing regime for any business which sells or imports knives. With media coverage relating to knife crime being focussed on kitchen knives, suppliers and retailers in the DIY and garden sectors may be thinking that this is just an issue for their colleagues in the housewares industry, but this is not the case. The scope of the proposed licensing scheme includes bladed items, with the definition of ‘knife’ in the context covering products like pruning knives or tiler’s knives. So, while many DIY and garden businesses may not consider themselves knife sellers at all, under these proposals, they would likely require a licence. It’s for this reason that here at


BHETA, we are urging the likes of DIY retailers, garden centres, builders’ merchants, and online sellers to engage immediately with this UK Government consultation because it could lead to fundamental change in how knives and bladed tools are sold in the UK. While the legislation has not yet been drafted, the consultation will directly inform the final policy design. This makes the current consultation period the single most important opportunity for the industry to influence outcomes.


The Government’s view As we are all aware, knife crime has risen sharply in recent years, placing intense pressure on legislators to act. On average, two to three people every week are killed by a knife in the UK, and this is understandably focussing Government thinking on reducing these figures and with initiatives such as preventing access by under- 18s and tackling illegal imports and online sales. But the Home Office believes that the current age-verification and enforcement is inconsistent, and that licensing sales would provide stronger


30 DIY WEEK JANUARY 2026


Above: Steve Edwards, BHETA’s sector manager for DIY and garden


oversight and accountability across the supply chain. Under the current consultation, the Government is considering: • A mandatory licensing system for all retailers selling knives in the UK, both online and in-store • Licensing for commercial importers of knives, with several options under review


Such a system could include enhanced age-verification, more secure storage and handling and more staff training.


Enforcement


powers would include licence suspension or revocation and financial penalties.


Import licensing options range


from authorised importer schemes to combined importer-seller licences, all of which could increase administrative burden, cost, and lead times. Currently, there are no automatic exclusions proposed for trade-specific knives or tools with no history of criminal misuse.


Potential impact for DIY and garden sellers While BHETA of course supports the responsible supply and sale of legitimate bladed articles, preventing access to knives by


minors, and tackling criminal misuse, it also sees law-abiding businesses already investing heavily in compliance. The concern is that poorly or overly broad targeting of new licensing regulation could add to those costs without delivering meaningful crime-reduction benefits. For responsible sellers, these additional costs could be significant and implementing the requirements of any potential licence could be operationally challenging. Consider licence fees, new compliance processes, training requirements and possible disruption to imports and stock availability.


There is


also particular concern about a disproportionate impact on SMEs, and the risk that legitimate businesses are penalised while criminal behaviour continues elsewhere.


What BHETA is doing; what individual businesses should do… BHETA is already engaging with Government to represent the whole home and garden sector. We met with the Home Office on 21 January and are arranging a direct Teams


meeting between BHETA members and Home Office officials in early February. Key priorities will be to seek clear exclusions for trade- style knives with no association with crime, and to ensure any licensing regime is proportionate, practical, and fair.


Meanwhile,


every business or individual selling bladed items, however small the range, should respond to the consultation before 24 February 2026, either via the Government’s online form or by email to KnifeLicensingConsultation@ homeoffice.gov.uk.


Support and information If individual companies need any help with this you can contact me, Steve Edwards on 07967 814192 or se@bheta.co.uk. We need the Home Office to hear the industry’s voice right now. BHETA represents suppliers in the home improvement, garden, housewares, and small electricals sectors, providing members with insight, networking, and business development opportunities. For more information, contact BHETA Member Services on 0121 237 1130 or visit www.bheta.co.uk.


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