Knife crime doesn’t just refer to using a knife in a threatening manner – it can also include buying, selling or carrying a knife.
Whilst knife crime is not a part of everyday life in South Wales, South Wales Police recognise the importance of taking positive action to prevent a problem occurring.
Knowing the law around knives can make a real difference in preventing crime being committed inadvertently.
It is a criminal offence to:
- Carry, buy or sell an illegal knife (examples are listed below)
- Carry a knife in public without a valid reason
- Carry any form of knife if you’re less than 18 years old
- Sell a knife to a person under the age of 18
- Threaten or hurt someone with a knife
Knives which fold into the handle such as a Swiss Army knife are not illegal if the blade is shorter than three inches (7.62cm), but will be classed as an offensive weapon if used in a threatening way.
Any sharp instrument that is used in a threatening way, for example, a screwdriver, will also be viewed by police as an offensive weapon.
The maximum penalty for carrying an offensive weapon is four years imprisonment and a £5000 fine.
Examples of illegal knives include, but are not limited to:
- Gravity knives
- Flick knives
- Belt-buckle knives
- Butterfly knives
- Disguised knives (for example, a lipstick knife)
- Stealth knives
- Push daggers
- Hand-claws
- Foot-claws
- Kyoketsu shoge (a hook-knife attached to a rope, cord or wire)
- Kubotan (cylindrical container, holding spikes)
- Kusari (weight attached to a rope, cord or wire)
- Kusari-gama (sickle attached to a rope, cord or wire)
- Shuriken (also known as 'death stars' or 'throwing stars')
South Wales Police officers have the right to stop and search any person or vehicle if they suspect an offence, including possession of an offensive weapon.
If you or someone you know has suspicions about somebody carrying a knife, please report it by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always dial 999.