§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he plans to take to prevent weapons legally bought on the continent from being brought into this country where they are illegal. [135010]
439W
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe manufacture, sale and importation of 14 bladed, pointed and other offensive weapons have been banned under Section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, in addition to flick knives and gravity knives, the sale of which was already banned under the Restrictions of Offensive Weapons Act 1959. The law prohibits the possession of offensive weapons in a public place, and the possession of knives in public without good reason or lawful authority, with the exception of a folding pocket-knife with a blade not exceeding three inches. Strict controls apply to the possession and importation of firearms.
The enforcement of controls on the importation of weapons is a matter for HM Customs and Excise, who deploy their resources in accordance with their assessment of risk.