http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/17/section/52Offensive Weapons Act 2019An Act to make provision for and in connection with offences relating to offensive weapons.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2024-05-18Expert Participation2023-03-27 PART 5521A person (“A”) commits an offence if—awhile A is in a private place, A unlawfully and intentionally threatens another person (“B”) with an article or substance to which this subsection applies, andbA does so in such a way that there is an immediate risk of serious physical harm to B.2Subsection (1) applies to an article or substance if it is—aan offensive weapon within the meaning of section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953,ban article to which section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (offence of having article with blade or point in public place) applies, orca corrosive substance.3In the application of subsection (1) to an article within subsection (2)(a) or (b), “private place” means a place other than—aa public place,ba place which is part of school premises, orca place which is part of further education premises.4In the application of subsection (1) to a corrosive substance, “private place” means a place other than a public place.5For the purposes of subsection (1) physical harm is serious if it amounts to grievous bodily harm for the purposes of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.6A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—aon summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, to a fine or to both;bon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years, to a fine or to both.7In relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022, the reference in subsection (6)(a) to the general limit in a magistrates’ court is to be read as a reference to 6 months.8In this section and section 53—“corrosive substance” means a substance that is capable of burning human skin by corrosion;“further education premises” means land used solely for the purposes of—an institution within the further education sector (within the meaning of section 91 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992), ora 16 to 19 Academy (within the meaning of section 1B of the Academies Act 2010),excluding any land occupied solely as a dwelling by a person employed at the institution or the 16 to 19 Academy;“public place” includes any place to which, at the time in question, the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise;“school premises” means land used for the purposes of a school, excluding any land occupied solely as a dwelling by a person employed at the school; and “school” has the meaning given by section 4 of the Education Act 1996.S. 52 in force at 6.4.2022 by S.I. 2022/418, regs. 1(2)(5), 2(b) (with reg. 3)Words in s. 52(7) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1Words in s. 52(7) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 tableWords in s. 52(6)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table