§ 68. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the recent court case concerning the murder of a man in Forest Gate, London, E.7, by the use of a stiletto; of the judge's view that the sale of these lethal weapons should be banned by law; and what action he proposes to take to make illegal the sale of these and similar dangerous weapons in shops.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgeI understand the jury recommended that knives such as that used in this killing should not be sold to the general public. The question of prohibiting the sale of dangerous knives has often been considered, but it has never been found practicable to make a legal distinction between those which ought to be prohibited and those which have a legitimate use. The Prevention of Crime Act, 1953, made it an offence to be in possession of an offensive weapon in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.