Knife crime and other offensive weapons (2024)

It's a crime to threaten someone with a knife or carry a knife as a weapon in a public place. Police can search you if they think you're carrying a knife. Some knives and harmful substances are offensive weapons and are banned in public places.

What counts as knife crime

Knife crime includes:

carryinga knife or trying to buy one if you’re under 18
threateningsomeone with a knife
carrying a knife that's banned
a murder where the victim was stabbed with a knife
a robbery or burglary where a thiefcarried a knife as a weapon

Offensive weapons

An offensive weapon is:

anarticle designed to cause injury to another person
anarticle carried with the intention of causing injury to another person
a harmful substance that can burn human skin

Penalties for knife crime

The law on knives says:

it is illegal for anyone, including a shop, to sell a knife of any kind (including cutlery and kitchen knives) to anyone under the age of 18
if you’re under 18, it’s illegal to buy most types of knives
anyone over 10 can be charged and taken to court if they’re caught with an illegal knife – even if it’s the first time they’ve been stopped by the police
if you're caught carrying a knife, you could receive a community sentence, a fine or imprisoned
you could be searched at any time if a police officer thinks you may be carrying a knife
even if you’re carrying a knife that you’re legally allowed to (like a penknife with a blade that’s shorter than three inches), it becomes illegal if you use it as a weapon to threaten or harm anyone

The maximum sentence for carrying a knife illegally is four years in prison and an unlimited fine. If you injure someone or use a knife to commit a crime, the penalties could increase.

Carrying a knife

It's an offence to carry a knife or an offensive weapon in a public place without a good reason.

Banned knives and offensive weapons

There is a complete ban on the sale of offensive weapons and certain knives, including:

flick knives - where the blade is hidden inside the handle and shoots out when a button is pressed - these are also called switchblades or automatic knives
butterfly knives - where the blade is hidden inside a handle that splits in two around it, like wings or the handles swing around the blade to open or close it
disguised knives - where the blade is hidden inside something, like a belt buckle or fake mobile phone
push daggers
gravity knives
'airport' or stealth knives
sword-sticks
samurai swords
knuckle-dusters
hand-claws
foot-claws
blowpipes or guns
kubotan (cylindrical container holding spikes)
shuriken (also known as death stars or throwing stars)
telescopic truncheons (automatically extending)
kusari-gama (sickle attached to a rope, cord or wire)
kyoketsu shoge (hook-knife attached to a rope, cord or wire)
kusari (weight attached to a rope, cord or wire)
straight, side handled or friction-lock truncheons

Corrosive substances

Corrosive substances are harmful substances or liquids that can burn and damage human skin.

It is against the law for you to have a corrosive substance in a public place. This includes corrosives poured into a container or bottle.

Types of corrosives that are against the law to have in a public place include strong drain cleaners and unblockers, brick and patio cleaners, paint strippers and industrial cleaning agents which are strong enough to burn human skin.

Penalties for having a corrosive substance in public

The maximum penalty could range from six months in prison to four years, to a fine of up to £5,000, or both depending on the seriousness of the offence.

Stop and search

Police officers have the right to stop and search any person or vehicle if they suspect an offence. This includes illegally carrying a knife or offensive weapon.

Helping to stop knife crime

If you have a knife and want to get rid of it, you can talk to an adult who you trust. They’ll be able to help you find the best way to dispose of it.

If you have information about knife crime in your area and you're nervous about going to the police, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They will never ask for your name or try to trace the number that you're calling from.