Any item becomes an offensive weapon if it is being carried with the intention of using it to cause injury or harm to another person.
For a list of offensive weapons download the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons Order) document. This list is not exhaustive.
Knives
It is illegal to:
- sell a knife of any kind to anyone under 18 years old
- carry a knife in public without good reason
- carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife
- use any knife in a threatening way
- carry a lock knife (the blade can be locked when unfolded)
For more information on knives, go to gov.uk.
Surrendering Knives
If you have unwanted knives that you would like to dispose of safely, you can take them to the front office of any police station.
How do I report it?
If there is an ongoing incident involving an offensive weapon and there is an immediate danger, you should always call 999 straight away.
To report a person you know to frequently carry an offensive weapon:
- fill in the 101 contact form
- by phone - call 101
- in person - visit a police station
You can report it anonymously:
- online - visit the crimestoppers website
To check if a knife is illegal and to find out how to safely dispose of a knife, fill in the General contact and enquiry form or call 101 or use webchat for further advice.
