Controls proposed for chemicals used to make dangerous weapons

Under the proposed changes outlined by the Home Office, access to natural materials needed to produce the toxic substances ricin and abrin will be heavily restricted in order to reduce the risk of people using them to cause harm.

During searches of Axel Rudakubana’s home, police found evidence that the (then) seventeen-year-old responsible for mass stabbings at the Hart Space dance studio in Southport in July 2024 had bought castor beans online to make ricin, in turn leading to his conviction under the Biological Weapons Act 1974.

In response, the Government is proposing to add castor beans containing ricin and rosary peas containing abrin to the list of regulated poisons under UK law. This will make it a criminal offence to sell them to members of the public who do not hold a valid licence.

This action comes as part of the Government’s stated commitment to implement all of the recommendations made in Phase One of the Southport Public Inquiry, which recommended greater regulation was needed around the availability of castor beans.

Ricin and abrin are already strictly controlled under UK law due to their extreme toxicity, but the seeds which can be used to produce these dangerous chemicals may be purchased for use in gardening and decoration.

Stopping ‘weaponisation’

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “Protecting the public is our first duty. While these substances can have legitimate uses, we must stop them from being ‘weaponised’ by those who want to cause harm.”

Jarvis added: “We will close the gaps exposed by the Southport attack and tighten the law to stop these dangerous chemicals falling into the wrong hands.”

As part of the move, the Government is also seeking to make it harder for people to access other dangerous poisons and chemicals which can be used to make explosives and pose risks to national security. This would mean that it would be much harder for people to access these substances without having a licence and require shops and businesses to report any suspicious transactions.

Poisons Act 1972

The proposed changes come under the Poisons Act 1972, which controls poisons and explosives precursors, thereby restricting the general public’s access to the most dangerous materials.

In certain circumstances, individuals can apply for a licence to buy and then use a regulated substance if they have a genuine need for it and there’s no safer alternative.

The changes will be subject to a consultation which was launched on 1 October. The Government is seeking views from the public, industry and business to gauge how these changes would affect them.