What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Brits face being jailed for two years if caught with acid in a bid to stamp out attacks.

Sales will be outlawed from Thursday to everyone without a Government licence.

The clampdown comes after a Daily Mirror investigation discovered fifteen acid attacks take place in Britain every week.

The tough new measures come after The Mirror has been campaigning for tighter laws on the sale of acid, found in household products from paint stripper to drain cleaner.

What do the new rules mean?

(Image: Ian Vogler/Daily Mirror)

Anyone found in possession of sulphuric acid above 15% concentration without a licence from today faces being handed a 24-month jail sentence and unlimited fine.

"Applicants need a legitimate purpose for a Home Office licence and must disclose any relevant health issues and previous criminal offences.

Retailers failing to check for a licence also face two years in prison and an unlimited fine.

Professional acid users like cleaning firms will not need a licence but employees will have to show ID.

The Home Office advised Brits to dispose of any sulphuric acid they have over the permitted concentration according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

What about online sales?

The Mirror has also been demanding a crackdown on online acid sales.

Web giants Amazon and eBay both removed a 91% sulphuric acid cleaner from sale after we highlighted the ease with which it could be bought.

The product had been used in several attacks that led to hefty jail sentences.

How many acid attacks have there been?

From January 2015 until May this year, there were a total of 2,602 such crimes - equivalent to 15 a week.

The number of crimes involving children is especially alarming.

They include attacks in Cumbria by boys aged six and nine, targeting girls of just four and five.

In Manchester a "violent offence" was logged, using bleach against a six-year-old boy, and teens aged 14 and 15 were attacked on trains.

In Hertfordshire, two 11-year-olds were charged for attacks on older teens, while 12-year-olds used acid against others of the same age.

Gwenton Sloley, 34, a community outreach worker from Dalston, East London, said acid and similar substances were now playground weapons.

He called for primary schools to show the lifetime of harm attacks can cause.

Gwenton said: "It will play on their consciences later.

"Almost three quarters of attacks took place in London.

Substances used also included bleach, paint stripper and caustic soda.

Who backs the change?

Beautician Adele, of Lowestoft, Suffolk, suffered horrific injury when acid was thrown over her on the orders of former boyfriend Anthony Riley in 2014.

Adele, 26, said: "One moment of evil changed my life for ever. It was worse than murder.

"I'm left scarred, broken and with my own life sentence.

"I wholeheartedly support the Mirror's campaign to stop these deadly substances falling into the wrong hands."

Crime Minister Victoria Atkins said: "Acid attacks are utterly appalling crimes and we are determined to put a stop to them."Sulphuric acid can be a very dangerous substance.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

"We are taking this threat seriously and are making it harder to possess and purchase corrosive substances."

"The changes we have introduced will help to ensure that sulphuric acid is kept away from those who mean harm. I am sure that all retailers will enforce the new restrictions.”