Knives

• Carrying a knife that can be used as a weapon in a public place is against the law
• Any object that could be used to inflict damage to another person, or to threaten someone is an offensive weapon.
• If you are caught carrying anything that could be used as a weapon in a public place you will have to explain to a police officer why you are carrying it. If you cannot give a good reason you can be arrested there and then. Carrying a weapon for your own protection is not an excuse.
• It is illegal to carry a knife for self-defence
• If you use a knife in self-defence you could end up in prison
• It is an offence to bring any weapon into school, you could get up to four years in prison
• It is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy a knife
• If you get someone else to carry a knife for you, you could get up to four years in prison.
• Police can and will search someone if they believe they are carrying a knife. Police and school staff can also search young people for weapons at school

Guns

• It is illegal to carry a gun, or anything that looks like a gun in a public place
• It is illegal to use a gun, or anything that looks like a gun to intimidate or threaten someone
• It is illegal to get someone to hide or carry a dangerous weapon for you. The maximum penalty is ten years in prison.
• It is illegal to sell an air weapon to any person under the ager of 18
• It is illegal to fire an air weapon anywhere other than on private land