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.

We intend to commence this measure, along with other measures provided for by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 relating to knives and corrosive products and substances, later this year. We paused commencement of the Act temporarily because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but we are working now to bring the Act fully in to force as soon as we can.