http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139/enactedCriminal Justice Act 1988Courts of lawCrown courtsKing's Printer of Acts of Parliament2021-08-02 Part XIMiscellaneousArticles with blades or points and offensive weaponsOffence of having article with blade or point in public place 139 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 on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. 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.
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