Offensive Weapons and Crossbows

Points to prove

• 1. Covers possession of or threatening with offensive weapons in a public place, manufacture and sale of offensive weapons, trespassing with a weapon of offence, and offences involving crossbows.

Defences

• No specific standalone defence was extracted from the source text; consider any applicable statutory defence, reasonable excuse, lawful authority, self-defence, necessity, consent, identification challenge, or other common-law defence on the facts.

Mode of trial & maximum penalty

Varies by offence / see legislation — Varies by offence — Possession of offensive weapon (Prevention of Crime Act 1953, s 1) and bladed/pointed article incl. school premises (CJA 1988, ss 139, 139A): Summary: 6/12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine; Indictment: 4 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (minimum sentence may apply on second conviction). Manufacture/sale etc of prohibited offensive weapons (CJA 1988, s 141(1)): Summary: 6 months' imprisonment and/or a level 5 fine (possession in private, s 141(1A): 51 weeks). Crossbows Act 1987: sale/hire to under-18 (s 1): Summary: 6 months' imprisonment and/or a level 5 fine; purchase/possession by under-18 (ss 2-3): Summary: level 3 fine. Corrosive substance in a public place (Offensive Weapons Act 2019, s 6): Summary: 6/12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine; Indictment: 4 years' imprisonment and/or a fine

Sources

• www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/14/section/1
• www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/139
• www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/141
• www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1987/32/section/6