Offence
Possess an offensive weapon in a public place
How often this offence appears in the published court listings for England and Wales, which courts list it most and where to read the official sentencing guideline.
- Hearings listed
- 2,533
- Upcoming hearings
- 35
- Next listed date
- Mon, 26 October 2026
- Courts listing it
- 138
- Heard in
- Magistrates' Court (2,533)
- Sentencing guideline
- Bladed articles and offensive weapons - having in a public place
- Official offence code
- PC53001
- The law
- Contrary to section 1(1) of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953.
- Where it can be tried
- Magistrates' court or Crown Court
- Can lead to prison
- Yes
Courts that list it most
- Manchester Magistrates' Court (110 hearings)
- Birmingham Magistrates' Court (85 hearings)
- Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court (84 hearings)
- Croydon Magistrates' Court (63 hearings)
- Thames Magistrates' Court (61 hearings)
- Leeds District Magistrates' Court (60 hearings)
- Bromley Magistrates' Court (52 hearings)
- Dudley Magistrates' Court (51 hearings)
- Willesden Magistrates' Court (51 hearings)
- Westminster Magistrates' Court (50 hearings)
- Sheffield Magistrates' Court (43 hearings)
- Teesside Magistrates' Court (43 hearings)
- Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court (39 hearings)
- Leicester Magistrates' Court (39 hearings)
- Uxbridge Magistrates' Court (39 hearings)
Related offences
- Possess an offensive weapon in private place
- Threaten a person with an offensive weapon in a public place
- Possess knife blade / sharp pointed article in a public place - Criminal Justice Act 1988
- Threaten a person with an offensive weapon / bladed article / corrosive substance in a private place
- Possess an imitation firearm in a public place - Firearms Act 1968
- Use a motor vehicle on a road / public place without third party insurance
- Drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road / in a public place without due care and attention
- Drunk and disorderly in a public place