J R JONES SOLICITORS
0121 777 7864
JR Jones Solicitors Birmingham
solicitors Birmingham

Offensive Weapons

Any offences involving Offensive Weapons is a serious crime and specialist legal advice should always be taken if you are arrested on suspicion of any of these offences.

The offence of carrying an offensive weapon, contact ussuch as a knife or a bladed/pointed article which could be used as a weapon is a serious offence. The unlawful possession or provision of any offensive weapon has been regarded by the Courts as encouraging violence and therefore by extension facilitating serious injury and death in addition to facilitating other criminal offences.

If you are arrested you should ask for a Solicitor at the earliest opportunity. You have a right to legal representation. J R Jones solicitors are available 24 hours a day on 0961 369 885. Please make a note of this number. In office hours you can also call us on 0121 777 7864.

Advice at a Police Station is free of charge and will be paid for by Legal Aid. This does not depend on your financial circumstances.

What is classed as an Offensive Weapon?

An ‘offensive weapon' is defined as: "any article made or adapted for use to causing injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use".

Offensive weapons fall into three categories:

  • Those weapons specifically made to cause injury to a person, such as machetes, swords, flick knives and truncheons. These weapons are classed as having no innocent quality. Other weapons which do not fall into this category do have an innocent purpose, for example: razors, penknives and lock knives.
  • Those weapons adapted for such a purpose
  • Those not originally and specifically made or adapted for the purpose of causing injury, but carried with the intention of causing injury to the person (this definition offers much broader scope to include items which do have an innocent purpose but are carried with the intent to use them as an offensive weapon)

Can I mount a defence against an offensive weapons charge?

In cases where a defence can be mounted, the only possible defences against a charge of carrying an offensive weapon are:

  • Having lawful authority to carry the weapon
  • Having reasonable excuse to carry the weapon

Defences based on either of these options require an experienced solicitor with specialist legal knowledge. Contact us for more information.