§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases concerning the sale and possession of knives have been brought by the Crown prosecution service in each of the last two years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of local amnesties on the number of such prosecutions.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation on the number of prosecutions concerning the illegal sale and possession of knives is given in the table.
Number of prosecutions for offences of possession and sales of knives 1988 and 1989—England and Wales Offence Statute 1988 1989 Having an article with a blade or point in a public place Criminal Justice Act 1988 Section 139 150 2,018 Manufacture, importation and sale of certain offensive weapons Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 Section 1, and Criminal Justice Act 1988 Section 141 2 17