{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997.json",
  "id": "ukpga/1997/21",
  "title": "Knives Act 1997",
  "long_title": "An Act to create new criminal offences in relation to the possession or marketing of, and publications relating to, knives; to confer powers on the police to stop and search people or vehicles for knives and other offensive weapons and to seize items found; and for connected purposes.",
  "citation": "1997 c. 21",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "1997",
  "number": "21",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "1997-03-19",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2010-04-12",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "unapplied_effects": 0,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/introduction",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/the-offences",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "The offences",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "Unlawful marketing of knives.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-1",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/the-offences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/2",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "Publications.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-2",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/the-offences"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/the-defences",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "The defences",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/3",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": "Exempt trades.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-3",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/the-defences"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/4",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": "Other defences.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-4",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/the-defences"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/supplementary-powers",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Supplementary powers",
      "url": null,
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/5",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "5",
      "heading": "Supplementary powers of entry, seizure and retention.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-5",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/supplementary-powers"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/6",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": "Forfeiture of knives and publications.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-6",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/supplementary-powers"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/7",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "7",
      "heading": "Effect of a forfeiture order.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-7",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/supplementary-powers"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/stopping-and-searching",
      "kind": "crossheading",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Stopping and searching",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/8",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "8",
      "heading": "Powers to stop and search for knives or offensive weapons.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-8",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/stopping-and-searching"
    },
    {
      "path": "crossheading/miscellaneous",
      "kind": "crossheading",
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      "heading": "Miscellaneous",
      "url": null,
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/9",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "9",
      "heading": "Offences by bodies corporate.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-9",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/miscellaneous"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/10",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "10",
      "heading": "Interpretation.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-10",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/miscellaneous"
    },
    {
      "path": "section/11",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "11",
      "heading": "Short title, commencement, extent etc.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/knives-act-1997/section-11",
      "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
      "status": null,
      "parent": "crossheading/miscellaneous"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/21",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T17:13:29.442490+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}