Offensive Weapons Act 2019

6 Offence of having a corrosive substance in a public place U.K.

(1) A person commits an offence if they have a corrosive substance with them in a public place.

(2) It is a defence for a person charged in England and Wales or Northern Ireland with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that they had good reason or lawful authority for having the corrosive substance with them in a public place.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), it is a defence for a person charged in England and Wales or Northern Ireland with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that they had the corrosive substance with them for use at work.

(4) It is a defence for a person charged in Scotland with an offence under subsection (1) to show that they had a reasonable excuse or lawful authority for having the corrosive substance with them in a public place.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4), it is a defence for a person charged in Scotland with an offence under subsection (1) to show that they had the corrosive substance with them for use at work.

(6) A person is to be taken to have shown a matter mentioned in subsection (4) or (5) if—

(a) sufficient evidence of the matter is adduced to raise an issue with respect to it, and

(b) the contrary is not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

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

(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F1 the general limit in a magistrates’ court], to a fine or to both;

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

(c) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;

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

(8) In relation to an offence committed before [F2 2 May 2022] the reference in subsection (7)(a) to [F3 the general limit in a magistrates’ court] is to be read as a reference to 6 months.

(9) In this section—

• “corrosive substance” means a substance which is capable of burning human skin by corrosion;

• “public place”, in relation to England and Wales or Northern Ireland, includes any place to which, at the time in question, the public have or are permitted access, whether on payment or otherwise;

• “public place”, in relation to Scotland, means any place other than premises occupied as a private dwelling (including any stair, passage, garden, yard, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises which is not used in common by the occupants of more than one such dwelling).

(10) See—

(a) section 7 for provisions about presumptions as to the content of containers in proceedings in Scotland;

(b) sections 8 and 9 for provisions requiring a court in England and Wales to impose an appropriate custodial sentence in certain cases.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 6(7)(a) substituted (E.W.) (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

F2 Words in s. 6(8) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F3 Words in s. 6(8) substituted (E.W.) (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table

Commencement Information

I1 S. 6 in force at 6.4.2022 for E.W. by S.I. 2022/418, regs. 1(2)(5), 2(b) (with reg. 3)

I2 S. 6 in force at 28.6.2022 for S. by S.S.I. 2022/150, reg. 2(a)

I3 S. 6 in force at 6.10.2022 for N.I. by S.R. 2022/235, art. 2