‘Walking stick daggers’ and ‘nunchucks’ return to London Tech Week banned list

Before hearing the prime minister or mayor of London talk up Britain’s tech future, attendees of this year’s London Tech Week had an important task: make sure they had left their spear gun at home. The annual list of prohibited items returned to Olympia on Monday, featuring a 45-item catalogue of banned objects ranging from the expected, to the distincly unusual. Alongside “firearms”, “explosives” and “knives”, attendees were informed that “crossbows”, “wooden and metal spears”, “nunchucks”, “stun guns” and “knuckle dusters” would not be eprmitted on site. Also making the list were “sky lanterns”, “kites”, “helium balloons” and a standout entry: “walking stick with dagger”. The sign, placed at each entrance of the conference, is becoming something of a London Tech Week feature, drawing attention from guests last year. While much of the list reflects standard security precautions for a major event hosting politicians and senior technology executives, some entries inevitably stand out. A spear gun is perhaps not the first item typically associated with a technology conference. Nor, for that matter, is a walking-stick dagger. A familiar sight at Olympia This year’s sign is largely unchanged from the version displayed at London Tech Week 2025, when attendees also noted the presence of items including bullet-proof vests, tear gas, toy guns and machetes. The latest edition retains a number of those entries, alongside a ban on “cause-based apparel or items which suggest support or expression” and items associated with political causes or conflicts, including stickers and badges. The sign appeared as Sir Keir Starmer opened the event with a keynote speech setting out the government’s ambitions for artificial intelligence. The prime minister announced a new sovereign compute strategy, including £400m of specialist AI chip purchases, alongside new AI skills programmes and support for technology startups. “Government is active in its approach to this, supporting risk-taking, making its own bets, providing the conditions for businesses to thrive, but also making sure we are sovereign,” he announced.  He also told delegates Britain must not “stick its head in the sand” over AI as the government seeks to position the UK as a global technology leader. City AM has approached London Tech Week organisers for comment.