PART 4Possession etc of certain offensive weapons

47Prohibition on the possession of offensive weapons: supplementary

I21

The Schedule to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988 (SI 1988/2019) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (9).

2

In paragraph 1, after paragraph (r) insert—

s

the weapon sometimes known as a “zombie knife”, “zombie killer knife” or “zombie slayer knife”, being a blade with—

i

a cutting edge;

ii

a serrated edge; and

iii

images or words (whether on the blade or handle) that suggest that it is to be used for the purpose of violence.

I13

In paragraph 1, after paragraph (s) insert—

t

the weapon sometimes known as a “cyclone knife” or “spiral knife” being a weapon with—

i

a handle,

ii

a blade with two or more cutting edges, each of which forms a helix, and

iii

a sharp point at the end of the blade.

I14

In paragraph 2, after “subsection (1)” insert “or (1A)”.

I15

In paragraph 3(a), after “section 141(1)” insert “or (1A)”.

I16

In paragraph 4—

a

the existing text becomes sub-paragraph (1),

b

in that sub-paragraph, in paragraph (a), after “section 141(1)” insert “or (1A)”, and

c

after that sub-paragraph insert—

2

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 141(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in respect of any conduct of that person relating to a weapon to which section 141 of that Act applies by virtue of paragraph 1(r) to show that the person's conduct was for the purpose only of participating in a permitted activity of a kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (1).

I17

In paragraph 5A—

a

the existing text becomes sub-paragraph (1),

b

in that sub-paragraph—

i

in paragraph (a), after “section 141(1)” insert “or (1A)”, and

ii

in the words following paragraph (b) for “in religious ceremonies” substitute “for religious reasons”, and

c

after that sub-paragraph insert—

2

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 141(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in respect of a weapon to which section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 applies by virtue of paragraph 1(r) to show that the person possessed the weapon for religious reasons only.

I18

After paragraph 5A insert—

5B

1

Sub-paragraph (2) applies to—

a

a person charged with an offence under section 141(1) or (1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in respect of any conduct of the person relating to a curved sword, and

b

a person charged with an offence under section 50(2) or (3) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 in respect of any conduct of the person relating to a curved sword.

2

It is a defence for the person to show that the person's conduct was for the purpose only of making the sword available for presentation by a Sikh to another person at a religious ceremony or other ceremonial event.

3

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 141(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 of giving a curved sword to another person to show that the person's conduct consisted of the presentation of the sword by a Sikh to another person at a religious ceremony or other ceremonial event.

4

It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 141(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 of possession of a curved sword in private to show that—

a

the person was a Sikh at the time the offence is alleged to have been committed and possessed the sword for the purpose only of presenting it to another person at a religious ceremony or other ceremonial event, or

b

the sword was presented to the person by a Sikh at a religious ceremony or other ceremonial event.

5

In this paragraph—

  • curved sword” means a weapon to which section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 applies by virtue of paragraph 1(r);

  • Sikh” means a follower of the Sikh religion.

I19

In paragraph 6, for “and 5A” substitute “, 5A and 5B”.

I110

The amendments made by subsections (2) to (9) are without prejudice to any power to make an order under section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 amending or revoking the order mentioned in subsection (1).

I511

The Schedule to the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Scotland) Order 2005 (SSI 2005/483) is amended as follows.

I312

In paragraph 1, after paragraph (q) insert—

r

the weapon sometimes known as a “cyclone knife” or “spiral knife” being a weapon with—

i

a handle,

ii

a blade with two or more cutting edges, each of which forms a helix, and

iii

a sharp point at the end of the blade.

I613

In paragraph 2, after “subsection (1)” insert “or (1A)”.

I4I714

The amendments made by subsections (12) and (13) are without prejudice to any power to make an order under section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 amending or revoking the order mentioned in subsection (11).