Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995

Offensive weapons S

47 Prohibition of the carrying of offensive weapons. S

(1) Any person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, the proof whereof shall lie on him, has with him in any public place any offensive weapon shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F1 four] years or a fine, or both.

(2) Where any person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) above the court may make an order for the forfeiture or disposal of any weapon in respect of which the offence was committed.

(3) A constable may arrest without warrant any person whom he has reasonable cause to believe [F2 to have committed or] to be committing an offence under subsection (1) above F3 . . .

(4) In this section “public place” includes any road within the meaning of the M1 Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise; and “offensive weapon” means any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use by him [F4 or by some other person].

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 47(1)(b) substituted (4.7.1996) by 1996 c. 26, s. 2(2)(4)

F2 Words in s. 47(3) inserted (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 74(2)(a), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)

F3 Words in s. 47(3) repealed (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 74(2)(b), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)

F4 Words in s. 47(4) inserted (4.7.1996) by 1996 c. 26, s. 5

Marginal Citations

M1 1984 c.54.

48 Search for offensive weapons. S

(1) Where a constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that any person is carrying an offensive weapon and has committed or is committing an offence under section 47 of this Act, the constable may search that person without warrant, and detain him for such time as is reasonably required to permit the search to be carried out; and he shall inform the person of the reason for such detention.

(2) Any person who—

(a) intentionally obstructs a constable in the exercise of the constable’s powers under subsection (1) above; or

(b) conceals from a constable acting in the exercise of those powers an offensive weapon,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(3) A constable may arrest without warrant any person who he has reason to believe has committed [F5 or is committing] an offence under subsection (2) above.

(4) In this section, “offensive weapon” has the same meaning as in the said section 47.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in s. 48(3) inserted (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 74(3), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)

49 Offence of having in public place article with blade or point. S

(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, any person who has an article to which this section applies with him in a public place shall be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F6 twelve] months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both; and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F7 four] years or a fine or both.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed.

(3) This section does not apply to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade does not exceed three inches (7.62 centimetres).

(4) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) above to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in the public place.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above, it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) above to prove that he had the article with him—

(a) for use at work;

(b) for religious reasons; or

(c) as part of any national costume.

(6) Where a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) above the court may make an order for the forfeiture of any article to which the offence relates, and any article forfeited under this subsection shall (subject to section 193 of the M2 Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (suspension of forfeiture etc, pending appeal)) be disposed of as the court may direct.

(7) In this section “public place” includes any place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted access, whether on payment or otherwise.

Textual Amendments

F6 Word in s. 49(1)(a) substituted (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 73(2), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)

F7 Word in s. 49(1)(b) substituted (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 73(3), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)

Marginal Citations

M2 1995 c.46.

[F8 49A Offence of having article with blade or point (or offensive weapon) on school premises. S

(1) Any person who has an article to which section 49 of this Act applies with him on school premises shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who has an offensive weapon within the meaning of section 47 of this Act with him on school premises shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article or weapon with him on the premises in question.

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3) above, it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above to prove that he had the article or weapon in question with him—

(a) for use at work,

(b) for educational purposes,

(c) for religious reasons, or

(d) as part of any national costume.

(5) A person guilty of an offence—

(a) under subsection (1) above shall be liable—

(i) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F9 twelve] months, or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;

(ii) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F10 four] years, or a fine, or both;

(b) under subsection (2) above shall be liable—

(i) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;

(ii) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years, or a fine, or both.

(6) In this section and section 49B of this Act, “school premises” means land used for the purposes of a school excluding any land occupied solely as a dwelling by a person employed at the school; and “school” has the meaning given by section 135(1) of the M3 Education (Scotland) Act 1980.]

Textual Amendments

F8 Ss. 49A, 49B inserted (1.9.1996) by 1996 c. 26, s. 4(3)(4); S.I. 1996/2071, art. 2

F9 Word in s. 49A(5)(a)(i) substituted (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 73(4), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)

F10 Word in s. 49A(5)(a)(ii) substituted (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 73(5), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)

Marginal Citations

M3 1980 c. 44.

[F11 49B Power of entry to search for articles with a blade or point and offensive weapons. S

(1) A constable may enter school premises and search those premises and any person on those premises for—

(a) any article to which section 49 of this Act applies, or

(b) any offensive weapon within the meaning of section 47 of this Act,

if he has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence under section 49A of this Act is being, or has been, committed.

(2) If in the course of a search under this section a constable discovers an article or weapon which he has reasonable grounds for believing to be an article or weapon of a kind described in subsection (1) above, he may seize it.

(3) The constable may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of the power of entry conferred by this section.]

Textual Amendments

F11 Ss. 49A, 49B inserted (1.9.1996) by 1996 c. 26, s. 4(3)(4); S.I. 1996/2071, art. 2

[F12 49C Offence of having offensive weapon etc. in prison S

(1) Any person who has with him in a prison—

(a) an offensive weapon, or

(b) any other article which has a blade or is sharply pointed,

commits an offence.

(2) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the weapon or other article with him in the prison.

(3) A defence under subsection (2) includes, in particular, a defence that the person had the weapon or other article with him in prison—

(a) for use at work,

(b) for religious reasons, or

(c) as part of any national costume.

(4) Where a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1), the court may make an order for the forfeiture of any weapon or other article to which the offence relates.

(5) Any weapon or other article forfeited under subsection (4) is, subject to section 193 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46), to be disposed of as the court may direct.

(6) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both,

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years or a fine or both.

(7) In this section—

• “offensive weapon” has the meaning given by section 47(4),

• “prison” includes—

  (a)

  any prison other than a naval, military or air force prison,

  (b)

  a remand centre (within the meaning of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 19 of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 (c. 45) (provision of remand centres and young offenders institutions),

  (c)

  a young offenders institution (within the meaning of paragraph (b) of that subsection), and

  (d)

  secure accommodation within the meaning of section 93(1) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36).]

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 49C inserted (1.11.2007) by Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 17), ss. 63, 67(2); S.S.I. 2007/431, art. 3, Sch.

50 Extension of constable’s power to stop, search and arrest without warrant. S

(1) Where a constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person has with him an article to which section 49 of this Act applies and has committed or is committing an offence under subsection (1) of that section, the constable may search that person without warrant and detain him for such time as is reasonably required to permit the search to be carried out.

(2) A constable who detains a person under subsection (1) above shall inform him of the reason for his detention.

(3) Where a constable has reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing an offence under section 49(1) [F13 or section 49A(1) or (2)]of this Act F14 . . . —

(a) F14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) F15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

he may arrest that person without warrant.

(4) Any person who—

(a) intentionally obstructs a constable in the exercise of the constable’s powers under subsection (1) above; or

(b) conceals from a constable acting in the exercise of those powers an article to which section 49 of this Act applies,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(5) Where a constable has reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing an offence under subsection (4) above he may arrest that person without warrant.

Textual Amendments

F13 Words in s. 50(3) inserted (4.7.1996) by 1996 c. 26, s. 1(2)

F14 S. 50(3)(a) and preceding words repealed (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 74(4)(a), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)

F15 S. 50(3)(b) repealed (1.9.2006) by Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 10), ss. 74(4)(b), 104; S.S.I. 2006/432, art. 2(d)