For 16- and 17-year olds, in year ending June 2022 32% of offenders sentenced under Section 315 of the Sentencing Act 2020 received an immediate custodial sentence.The proportion of 16-17-year-old offenders dealt with under the legislation receiving an immediate custodial sentence fell from 46% in year ending June 2020 to 33% in year ending June 2021 but was broadly stable over the past year. By contrast, the proportion of 16- and 17-year olds receiving a community sentence increased from 43% in year ending June 2020 to 58% in both year ending June 2021 and year ending June 2022. Please note, however, that for this age group a discount for an early guilty plea will lead to a non-custodial sentence as 4 months is the minimum period of custody given to under 18s.

Possession of certain dangerous knives - Section 1A Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959- as inserted by section 44 of OWA. Over the most recent year, the number of cases dealt with decreased by 7% to 19,448, but this was still higher than the start of the pandemic (5% higher than year ending June 2020). The reduction in the number of cases is possibly, at least in part, due to the Criminal Bar Association action. Prior to the pandemic there had been an increasing trend. Between year ending June 2014 and year ending June 2019 the number of knife and offensive weapon offences dealt with by the Criminal Justice System increased from 16,345 to 22,472. However, in year ending June 2020 the number of offences dealt with then fell by 17% as restrictions were imposed in response to the pandemic. The number of offences increased by 12% in year ending June 2021 compared with year ending June 2020. This highlights the number of knife and offensive weapon offences dealt with by the Criminal Justice System is showing some signs of recovery, but the number of cases dealt with has not fully returned to levels shown before the pandemic started.SVROs are being piloted across Merseyside, Sussex, Thames Valley and West Midlands over a two-year period. Following the pilot, SVROs will be independently evaluated before consideration is given to whether SVROs are rolled out nationally. protect any particular members of the public in England and Wales (including the offender) from such risk; or

Where a person uses an article offensively in a public place, the offensive use of the article is not conclusive of the question of whether he had it with him as an offensive weapon within section 1(1) PCA 1953. A person must knowingly have the item with them, with relevant considerations including the proximity between the person and the weapon, whether the weapon is immediately available to the person and the accessibility of the weapon. Having an article innocently will be converted into having the article guiltily if intent to use the article offensively is formed before the actual occasion to use violence has arisen. Once a person knowingly has an item with them, they continue to have it until they rid themselves of it. A person forgetting about an article does not negate them having it with them. Public place Minimum sentences for 'second strike' offences of possession of knives or offensive weapons came into force on 17 July 2015. The OWA has extended this to cover possession of corrosive substances. Evidence of previous criminality may be relevant to a matter in issue between the parties, particularly if it casts an innocent explanation (advanced as “good reason”) in a different light or rebutting it entirely. Evidence showing that a defendant is a member of a gang involved in drug and gun crime is admissible to rebut a defence that guns and drugs found in, for example, the defendant’s home, were left there by others. This should be considered particularly in cases where a defendant raises a defence of “good reason” or claims that he did not in fact have the knives in his possession. See the legal guidance on Decision Making in Gang Related Offences for more information. had with him parts of a crossbow which together and without any other parts can be assembled to form a crossbow capable of discharging a missile

Advanced Features

The NPCC and CPS have jointly produced a Practical Guidance document that sets out the shared approach. Applies to any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use by him or by some other person.

Note that “knife” means an instrument which has a blade or is sharply pointed; “marketing” and related expressions are to be read with section 1(4); “publication” includes a publication in electronic form and, in the case of a publication which is, or may be, produced from electronic data, any medium on which the data are stored; “suitable for combat” means suitable for use as a weapon for inflicting injury on a person or causing a person to fear injury; “violent behaviour” means an unlawful act inflicting injury on a person or causing a person to fear injury. Susan underwent a traumatic personal examination at the St Mary's sexual assault and rape crisis centre (Image: ABNM Photography) Section 1 of the Knives Act 1997 creates an offence of unlawful marketing of knives, which is committed if a person markets a knife in a way which- The definition of bladed or pointed article is the same as section 139 CJA. The definition of offensive weapon is the same as section 1 PCA. The possession and use of knives to threaten or harm someone covers a wide range of offences, from robbery to serious sexual offences and murder. Producing a guide that covers the huge range of contexts within which knives are used illegally would be unwieldy. We do not attempt that here. Nor do we focus on offences that involve the illegal sale or importation of knives.Prosecutors should assist the court by drawing its attention to the SC guidance and reminding the court of the power to commit for sentence where the seriousness of the offence requires a custodial sentence of more than 6 months. Minimum sentences for those convicted of second or subsequent offence ('second strike')