{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996.json",
  "id": "ukpga/1996/26",
  "title": "Offensive Weapons Act 1996",
  "long_title": "An Act to make provision about persons having knives, other articles which have a blade or are sharply pointed or offensive weapons; and about selling knives or such articles to persons under the age of sixteen years.",
  "citation": "1996 c. 26",
  "type": "ukpga",
  "year": "1996",
  "number": "26",
  "version": "current",
  "date": "1996-07-04",
  "revised": true,
  "valid_from": "2011-03-28",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "unapplied_effects": 0,
  "provisions": [
    {
      "path": "introduction",
      "kind": "introduction",
      "number": null,
      "heading": "Introductory text",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996/introduction",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/1",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "1",
      "heading": "Arrest without warrant for offences of carrying offensive weapons etc.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996/section-1",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/2",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "2",
      "heading": "Increased penalty for offence of carrying an offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996/section-2",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/3",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "3",
      "heading": "Increased penalty for offence of having article with blade or point in public place.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996/section-3",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/4",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "4",
      "heading": "Offence of having article with blade or point (or offensive weapon) on school premises etc.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996/section-4",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/5",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "5",
      "heading": "Meaning of offensive weapon: Scotland",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996/section-5",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": "repealed",
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/6",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "6",
      "heading": "Sale of knives and certain articles with blade or point to persons under sixteen.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996/section-6",
      "extent": "E+W+S",
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    },
    {
      "path": "section/7",
      "kind": "section",
      "number": "7",
      "heading": "Short title and extent.",
      "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/offensive-weapons-act-1996/section-7",
      "extent": null,
      "status": null,
      "parent": null
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/26",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T17:14:04.608166+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."
  }
}