Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Commencement No. 2) (England and Wales) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/762) (“the Commencement Regulations”).

Section 31 of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (c. 17) (“the Act”) requires the provisions of Part 2 (knife crime prevention orders) to be brought into force either for one or more specified purposes or in relation to one or more specified areas in England and Wales, and for the Secretary of State to lay a report before Parliament on the operation of those provisions, before all of the provisions of Part 2 may be brought fully into force in England and Wales.

Regulation 2 of the Commencement Regulations brought into force, in specified areas and for specified purposes, provisions of Part 2 of the Act for a ‘pilot period’ (the specified period) of 14 months from 5 July 2021.

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the Commencement Regulations so that the pilot period will end at the end of 31 March 2023.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.