Update on the Offensive Weapons Bill

On Wednesday this week [30 January], the House of Lords discussed the Government's proposals to restrict the online sale of knives through the Offensive Weapons Bill. The discussion was instructive with many opposition and backbench Lords arguing that the proposals to reduce knife crime through restricting online sales would not work or improve the current knife crimewave impacting the UK.

When the Offensive Weapons Bill was published, the Countryside Alliance welcomed the Government's commitment to ensure our streets and children were kept safe. However, we had serious reservations that the proposed restrictions on online knife sales, and the banning of rapid firing and high velocity firearms would actually ensure our streets were safer and only impacted on those law-abiding citizens. The Government also failed to provide robust evidence demonstrating these proposals would reduce knife crime.

It was reassuring to hear the Lords at Committee Stage echo our concerns that implementing changes for the sake of being seen to do so does not always lead to improvements. This is particularly relevant to the proposed firearms that have been caught up in the Bill, but also the online sale of knives that are so vital to rural life in both farming and gamekeeping occupations.

The Countryside Alliance first raised concerns about the proposals restricting the online sale of knives back in August 2017, where we wrote to the then Home Secretary, Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, and again in October 2017 when we met the then Crime Minister, Sarah Newton MP.

Our major concern was that the proposals would adversely affect people in rural communities who use knives daily as part of their work. Whilst we are happy with the changes the Government made to address our concerns it was also welcoming to hear the Lords shared our worries and they will continue to monitor progress to ensure those buying and selling knives are not negatively affected. One such action that we will continue to push for as a solution is the high-tech solution of online age verification which is something that has yet to be fully considered.

The Committee Stage of the Offensive Weapons Bill continues next week [6 February] where the discussion moves to firearms. The Countryside Alliance, alongside the British Shooting Sports Council are briefing Lords on several amendments prior to the Bill moving to the Report Stage.