Statutory guidance

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019

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

• From: Home Office
• Published: 6 April 2022
• Last updated: 27 July 2022
  Show all updates

  1. 27 July 2022

     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. 28 June 2022

     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. 15 June 2022

     Added revised Welsh version of statutory guidance.

  4. 6 April 2022

     First published.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Statutory guidance: Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (accessible)

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Statutory guidance: Offensive Weapons Act 2019

PDF, 470 KB, 37 pages

Impact assessment: Offensive Weapons Act 2019

PDF, 948 KB, 68 pages

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Statutory guidance: Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Welsh, accessible version)

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Statutory guidance: Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Welsh)

PDF, 483 KB, 38 pages

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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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