BRC Members meet Home Office on Offensive Weapons Act - sale of knives and corrosives

BRC members met Home Office officials for a Q and A on the Statutory Guidance on the Offensive Weapons Act - focusing on the sale of knives and corrosives.

The requirements in the Act changed at the last minute after pressure  in that residential deliveries of bladed articles and products - which were to be banned - are allowed under certain conditions.

Also after pressure,  the Guidance makes clear that cutlery IS included as a bladed article but is not a bladed product with additional requirements.

It should also be noted that s50 of the Act changes the requirements for an attack with a knife so that it is no longer necessary to show objectively that a victim was threatened but now that a victim believes they were threatened. This could be useful in attacks in store on shop workers.