A lucrative trade with a deadly cost

In the world's deadliest business, the UK is making big money.

The global arms trade is a hugely lucrative field, worth $100 billion annually. Governments trade in weaponry and security equipment, buying from their own national industries or others in order to arm themselves or pass weapons on.

The UK is one of the biggest arms producers and exporters in the world, with annual exports worth £8.2 billion. The Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) said the UK arms industry is 'fuelling death and destruction across the world'. But the government say they do not issue export licenses when there is a clear risk of humanitarian law being violated.

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The Manchester Evening News is campaigning to raise awareness of the long-term consequences of anti-personnel landmines. These are victim-activated explosives, designed to maim or kill individuals when triggered, and can remain in the ground for decades in perfect condition.

Globally, landmines and unexploded ordnance kill and maim 15 people everyday - half of them children. These horrifying weapons are subject to a near-global ban through the Mine Ban Treaty of 1997 and are not manufactured, stockpiled, or used by the UK.

But the UK plays a major role in a global arms market and export licences supplied to Saudi Arabia allow the UK economy to benefit from selling potentially deadly weapons.

The ethics of warfare are complex - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has recently clarified the UK will not supply Ukraine with cluster munitions during the ongoing conflict with Russia, despite a US decision to supply these explosives.

Cluster munitions weapons contain a number of bomblets which can