Legally in the UK, if a person under the age of 18 purchases a knife, is it an offence for the minor?

Guerrilla Sauce

It's rather confusing, and I'm afraid I can't offer a complete answer.

The Criminal Justice Act 1988 made illegal to sell any knife to anyone under 16. There was then an amendment which meant that folding pocketknives (like Swiss Army knives; ones which don't lock the blade open) with blades shorter than 3", and blades in fixed houses (safety razors, pencil sharpeners etc.) weren't affected by the legislation.

Then The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 changed that age to 18, but didn't (at least not in any part I've read) change the law in any other way (with regards to making it an offence to buy knives at under 18, or repealing the amendment which meant some knives weren't age restricted).... but the Home Office has stated it's illegal to sell ANY knife to under 18s... I've no idea where that law is written though!

However, Scotland introduced a much more wide ranging law which specifically states it's illegal to sell ANY knife (thus repealing that earlier amendment to The Criminal Justice Act 1988) to someone under 18, UNLESS they're 16 or 17 and the knife is designed for domestic use (in other words kitchen knives; the ones that most violent crime is committed with!).

It is illegal for someone under 18 to buy an airgun, as well as illegal for the retailer to sell it to them... but with knives it seems that it's only the retailer who is punishable.

If someone under the age of 18 did buy a knife, then they would have good reason to have it in public while going from the shop to home (the retailer would be liable to prosecution though); the only crime they might commit is if a police officer had good grounds to suspect that the person intends to use that knife as a weapon. Then they would fall foul of The Prevention of Crime Act 1953.

The whole law is not only complicated, but incredibly stupid. If you have a job at 16 where you need a knife, you can carry in public but only after someone older has bought it for you. If you get married and start your own household at 16/17 you cannot buy the knives you need for your kitchen unless you live in Scotland or again, someone older buys them for you.

We have the Prevention of Crime Act 1953. We do not need age restrictions on the sale of knives! Every teenager in the country has access to a kitchen draw full of knives anyway... what the hell are these age restrictions supposed to achieve? All they're doing is making the lives of decent people more difficult.

old know all

Both. It's a criminal transaction.

Robin B

Not an offence at all as long as the knife is within legal type/size limits, it is securely wrapped and being conveyed by the buyer with good reason.

Otherwise it would be impossible for anyone to purchase cooking utensils, tools for work or normal cutlery.

There is nothing to prevent a 16 year old buying a cutlery set or a trade knife that is for work or their hobby.

If you are or working age you can buy any legally sold knives. Carrying them on your person without good reason could be determined to be illegal.

mafiaboss_nz

Offence for the seller to sell a age restricted item.

Its a offence for the minor to then walk out into the street with it, if they happened to be stopped right at that point and searched then they commit a offence of being in possession of a bladed article in a public place, unless they had a really good reason to have bought and be in possession of it IE its a fishing knife you just bought from a tackle shop..basically there has to be a legitimate reason to have it and there are less reasons for a minor than someone who is say a chef by trade who has just bought a kitchen knife.

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