Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to bring into force the offence of threatening with an offensive weapon etc in a private place as provided for by section 52 of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.

The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 is part of our broader strategy and programme of work to tackle serious violence, giving the police and other agencies more powers to tackle the use of knives, acids and firearms in serious violence.

Commencement of the legislation was paused due to Covid-19, to avoid placing additional burdens on the police and the retail and delivery sectors who will need to make changes to comply with the legislation.

Some measures provided for by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 came in to force on 14 July 2021 and we intend to commence the remaining measures, including those in section 52 of the Act, in April 2022.