Government crackdown on possession of weapons

June 26, 2018

There has been an increase in serious knife crime and other violence in the UK over the past year. To help tackle this, the government has released an ‘Offensive Weapons Bill’, which will take a stricter approach to anyone in possession of harmful liquids and weapons.

So, what will change?

  • It will become a criminal offence to sell (online and offline) a corrosive and harmful item to someone under the age of 18.
  • It will become a criminal offence to be in possession of a corrosive or harmful substance in public. Within good reason, there is a defence of possessing a corrosive or harmful substance. There is a minimum custodial sentence in England and Wales if someone is convicted for a relevant offence for a second time. This will carry a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison.
  • If a corrosive, harmful or bladed product is sold online for the wrong reasons, the defence of interpreting and following reasonable precautions is only valid when the seller meets a specific criteria, e.g. verified age, packaging and delivery.
  • It will become a criminal offence to send any bladed, harmful and/or corrosive products sold online to a residential address. The offence for bladed products is specifically for those that could cause severe harm and injury to others, and will carry a maximum sentence of 6 months in prison.
  • There will be new criminal offences for delivery companies who have delivered a bladed weapon or product to someone under the age of 18 on behalf of a seller outside the UK.
  • Update existing law: It will become a criminal offence to be in possession of specific weapons e.g. knuckledusters and death stars.
  • Update any existing laws for possessing a bladed or harmful weapon on school property by extending this to also cover further education premises in England and Wales.
  • Update existing legal test for threatening with an offensive weapon.
  • It will be a criminal offence to be in possession of high energy, rapid firing rifles and ‘bump stock’.

How Tuckers Solicitors can help you in relation to the possession of weapons…

If you are looking for legal advice about the possession of bladed or corrosive weapons, please contact us on our usual contact details.

We are always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0845 200 3367 or info@tuckerssolicitors.com.