Statutory guidance

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019

Statutory guidance on the provisions in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Impact assessment: Offensive Weapons Act 2019

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Statutory guidance: Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Welsh)

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Details

The guidance is primarily intended for use by the police, retailers, delivery companies and Trading Standards. It will also be of interest to the Crown Prosecution Service, courts, manufacturers and suppliers of bladed articles, bladed products, and corrosives, as well as the public.

The guidance applies to England and Wales and to Scotland only in relation to sections 1 to 4 of the Act on the sale and delivery of corrosive products.

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Updates to this page

Published 6 April 2022
Last updated 27 July 2022 + show all updates
  1. Updated the Welsh version to reflect changes made by the Scottish Government to the list of prescribed documents which can be used to prove age in Scotland. The Scottish Government have now added UK driving licences to the list of documents and this came into effect on 28 June 2022.

  2. Guidance updated to take into account legislative changes made by the Scottish Government to the defences available to sellers if charged with an offence of selling or delivering a corrosive product to an under 18. The change allows UK photocard driving licences to be accepted and used as a valid form of ID following EU exit.

  3. Added revised Welsh version of statutory guidance.

  4. First published.

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