These Regulations bring into force, insofar as not already in force, sections 44, 46 and 47 of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (”the Act”) on 27 March 2023. The provisions commenced are the remaining provisions of the Act which are not already in force.

The Bill for the Act received Royal Assent on 16 May 2019. The following provisions came into force on the day the Act received Royal Assent: sections 30 and 31, 48 and 49 (partially), 54(1), 54(2) to (4) (partially), 54(5) and (7)(a), 55(1), 55(2) and (3) (partially), 55(6)(a), 57 to 61, 63 and 68 to 71. Sections 5, 7, 11, 13(5), 34(1), 36, 46(15) and 66 (so far as it confers functions on the Scottish Ministers) were commenced on 1 January 2021 by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Commencement No. 1) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. Sections 1 to 4, 14 to 29 (partially), 43(1), 44(1) and (4) (partially), 54 (so far as not already in force), 56, 64(5), 65 and 67 and schedule 2 of the Act were commenced in relation to Scotland by the UK Government by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2021 and the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Commencement No. 2 and Saving Provision) Regulations 2022. Sections 6, 38 to 42, 46(1) (so far as it relates to subsection (15)) and section 47(11), (12) and (14) (so far as it relates to subsection (12)) were commenced by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 (Commencement No. 2) (Scotland) Regulations 2022.

The Act makes provision for and in connection with offences relating to offensive weapons.

Provisions have been brought into force in relation to other parts of the United Kingdom by means of separate Regulations.