Part XI Miscellaneous
Articles with blades or points and offensive weapons
E1139 Offence of having article with blade or point in public place.
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.
2
Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed except a folding pocketknife.
3
This section applies to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches.
4
It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a 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 this section 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
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable-
F1a
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 F2four years, or a fine, or both.
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.
8
This section shall not have effect in relation to anything done before it comes into force.
E2139 Offence of having article with blade or point in public place.
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.
2
Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed except a folding pocketknife.
3
This section applies to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches.
4
It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a 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 this section 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.
F36
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable—
a
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;
b
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years, or to a fine, or to both.
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.
8
This section shall not have effect in relation to anything done before it comes into force.