Prevention of Crime Act 1953

by the Parliament of the United Kingdom

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CHAPTER 14

An Act to prohibit the carrying of offensive weapons in public places without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.[6th May 1953.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Prohibition of the carrying of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. 1.—(1) Any person who without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, the proof whereof shall lie on him, has with him in any the public place any offensive weapon shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, or both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, or both.

(2) Where any person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) of this section the court may make an order for the forfeiture or disposal of any weapon in respect of which the offence was committed.

(3) A constable may arrest without warrant any person whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be committing an offence under subsection (1) of this section, if the constable is not satisfied as to that person’s identity or place of residence, or has reasonable cause to believe that it is necessary to arrest him in order to prevent the commission by him of any other offence in the course of committing which an offensive weapon might be used.

(4) In this section “public place” includes any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise; and “offensive weapon” means 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.

Short title, commencement and extent. 2.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Prevention of Crime Act, 1953.

(2) This Act shall come into operation on the expiration one month from the passing thereof.

(3) This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.