§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward proposals to differentiate between kitchen knives and combat knives in legislation. [150954]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 27 January 2004]None. Current legislation recognises that all knives have potential to cause injury and, in general, does not
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Number of constables abstracted for Counter Terrorism (Ceremonial, Royal visits and security Events) from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003 January February March April May June July Barking and Dagenham 2 32 154 361 194 166 109 Barnet 4 94 205 457 221 290 126 Belgravia 0 90 144 260 145 122 76 Bexley 0 53 128 361 129 167 86 Brent 1 176 55 339 265 283 148 Bromley 0 86 185 544 210 247 100 Camden 4 159 243 534 423 339 103 Charing Cross 8 123 124 198 128 102 116 Croydon 0 108 185 553 316 360 89 Ealing 0 218 184 456 166 323 103 Enfield 2 82 201 472 168 257 43 Greenwich 0 80 223 567 404 340 198 Hackney 0 89 109 326 307 332 53 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 111 41 230 56 81 73 Haringey 2 89 69 241 249 346 76 Harrow 0 95 121 276 62 153 86 Havering 2 35 164 377 235 205 70 Hillingdon 0 255 190 500 237 257 25 Hounslow 0 232 156 503 90 255 108 Islington 6 108 184 404 201 310 110 Kensington and Chelsea 0 141 186 415 313 284 104 Kingston 0 71 105 239 214 130 23 Lambeth 13 280 188 780 504 372 186 distinguish between kitchen knives and combat knives. Under the Knives Act 1997, it is an offence to market a knife which indicates that it is suitable for combat or is likely to encourage violent behaviour.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are being made to ensure that children under the age of 16 do not(a) buy and (b) carry knives. [150956]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 27 January 2004]Section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 makes it an offence to sell a knife or other article with blade or point to persons under 16 years of age. Under Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 it is an offence of having an article with a blade or point in a public place without good reason or lawful excuse. An exemption applies to folding pocket knives with a blade of less than three inches. The Government supports operations by the Police and Trading Standards Officers to enforce this legislation.