The information and links below are provided for information only, and intended for use by those involved in defending or prosecuting a case, or preparing a case for consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service, which involves a knife or knives, or an implement made or adapted to have a sharpened edge ...

The Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act (1959)
Prohibits the sale or manufacture of switchblades, automatic knives and gravity knives within Great Britain.

The Criminal Justice Act (1988)
Restricts the sale of certain knife categories. Amongst those included are belt buckle knives, push daggers, and other "so called" martial arts weapons.
> Click Here to View The Act

The Offensive Weapons Act (1996)
Prohibits the sales of certain types of knife to persons under the age of 16.
> Click Here to View The Act

The Knives Act (1997)
Restricts the sale of any knife suitable for combat, and regulates those that advertise knives or offer them for sale.
> Click Here to View The Act

The Human Rights Act (1998)
The acceptability of the reverse burden of proof and the ECHR, and how it affects individual cases.
> Click Here to View The Act

The Criminal Justice Act (2003)
Increases powers for the Police implemented under the Knives Act 1997 and the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Important information for Crown Prosecutors and changes to sentencing, including new guidelines on trying cases either way for offences involving weapons.
> Click Here to View The Act

The Crown Prosecution Service
Code and considerations for Crown Prosecutors, for cases involving carrying weapons.
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Human Rights & The Legal Burden of Proof
Information on the sustainability of the balance of legal burden for Court cases, by Simon Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Law with the University of Sunderland.
> Click Here to View

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PAGE IS SUPPLIED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND REPRESENTS ONLY OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW. WE ARE NOT IN ANY WAY LEGALLY TRAINED NOR QUALIFIED IN ANY SUBJECT OF LAW, NOR DO WE CLAIM TO BE. FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING CURRENT UK LEGISLATION AND LEGAL ISSUES PLEASE CONTACT A SOLICITOR.