UKPGA-1996-26 — Offensive Weapons Act 1996

preamble

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

s. 1 — Arrest without warrant for offences of carrying offensive weapons etc.

s. 1(1)

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s. 1(2)

In section 50(3) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (arrest without warrant), after “section 49(1)” there is inserted “ or section 49A(1) or (2) ”.

s. 2 — Increased penalty for offence of carrying an offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

s. 2(1)

In section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, in subsection (1)(b), for “two” there is substituted “four”.

s. 2(2)

In section 47 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (prohibition of the carrying of offensive weapons), in subsection (1)(b), for “two” there is substituted “ four ”.

s. 2(3)

In Article 22 of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (carrying of offensive weapon in public place), in paragraph (3)(b), for “2” there is substituted “ 4 ”.

s. 2(4)

Subsections (1) to (3) above do not apply to offences committed before this Act comes into force.

s. 3 — Increased penalty for offence of having article with blade or point in public place.

s. 3(1)

In section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, in subsection (6), for the words following “shall be liable” there is substituted—

s. 3(2)

Subsection (1) above does not apply to an offence committed before this Act comes into force.

s. 4 — Offence of having article with blade or point (or offensive weapon) on school premises etc.

s. 4(1)

After section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (offence of having article with blade or point in public place) there is inserted—

s. 4(2)

In section 172 of that Act (extent), in subsection (3), for “section 139” there is substituted “ sections 139 to 139B ”.

s. 4(3)

After section 49 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (offence of having in public place article with blade or point) there is inserted—

s. 4(4)

Subsections (1) to (3) above shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.

s. 5 — Meaning of offensive weapon: Scotland

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s. 6 — Sale of knives and certain articles with blade or point to persons under sixteen.

s. 6(1)

After section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (offensive weapons) there is inserted—

s. 6(2)

In section 172 of that Act (extent) in subsection (2), for “and 142” there is substituted “ 141A and 142 ”.

s. 6(3)

Subsections (1) and (2) above shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.

s. 7 — Short title and extent.

s. 7(1)

This Act may be cited as the Offensive Weapons Act 1996.

s. 7(2)

Sections 2(3) and (4), 3 and 4(1), (2) and (4) and this section extend to Northern Ireland.