Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mr. Wells, and welcome to today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called The laws about knives and weapons.

It's part of the unit Staying safe: what do I need to know about knife crime? Because of the content of today's lesson, it's important that you are supervised by an adult.

If you aren't, I would like you to close the screen now and come back when an adult is with you.

Let's make a start.

The outcome for today's lesson is: I can explain the law on knives and weapons.

Let's take a look at the ground rules before we start the lesson.

Laura tells us it's important in RSHE lessons to listen to others.

"It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

When disagreeing, we challenge the statement, not the person." Andeep reminds us of the importance of respecting privacy.

"We can discuss examples, but do not use names or descriptions that identify anyone, including ourselves." Jacob says, "No judgment.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without fear of being judged." And finally, Izzy says that we choose our level of participation.

"Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or join discussion.

We never put anyone on the spot." Throughout today's lesson, there are two key words.

The first is offense.

It means a breach of the law or rule; an illegal act.

And the second is possession.

Having something that belongs to you or is under your control, such as keeping an item, weapon, or other object with you or in your care.

Today's lesson is in two parts.

The first is called What does the law say about knives and weapons? The second is What are the legal consequences? Let's get going with our first learning cycle, What does the law say about knives and weapons? Police Officer Paula says, "In the UK, the law is very clear.

Carrying a knife or weapon in public without a good reason is an offense." Possession means simply having something under a person's control.

This might mean in a pocket, bag, or car, for example.

In the context of knives and weapons, possession is a key legal term.

The law does not require proof of the person intending to use the knife or weapon.

A person simply having the knife or weapon in their possession is enough to commit an offense.

It's important to understand that even if someone is holding something for somebody else, they can still be charged with possession.

The law doesn't distinguish between whether the knife or weapon belongs to the person carrying it or belongs to a friend.

If it is under their control, they are responsible.

It's time for our first check for understanding.

True or false? If someone has a knife or other weapon in their school bag but never takes it out, this is still possession.

Is that true or is it false? The correct answer is true.

I wonder if you can tell me why.

And you might have said that possession means having something under a person's control.

Even if the knife or weapon never leaves the bag, having it in a school bag would still be classed as possession.

The law distinguishes between different categories of knives under the Criminal Justice Act of 1988 and the Prevention of Crime Act 1953: banned knives and weapons, these are illegal to own, carry, buy, or sell under any circumstances.

Examples include butterfly knives, disguised knives, and zombie knives.

Knives you can own, but cannot carry in public without good reason.

This includes most kitchen knives, craft knives, and any knife with a blade longer than 7.

62 centimeters.

Legal carry knives.

Only folding pocket knives with blades shorter than 7.

62 centimeters that don't lock can be carried without a specific reason.

However, even a legal carry knife becomes illegal if you intend to use it to threaten or harm someone.

Police Officer Paula says, "Disguised knives are particularly serious under the law.

And these are blades or sharp points hidden inside everyday objects such as belts, combs, pens, lipsticks, or phone cases.

Because they're designed to be concealed, disguised knives are completely banned.

It is illegal to possess, buy, sell, or import them under any circumstance; there is no 'good reason' defense for carrying a disguised knife." It's time for our next check for understanding.

Which of the following are always illegal to own in the UK? Is it A, folding pocket knives, B, disguised knives, C, kitchen knives, or D, zombie knives? The correct answers are disguised knives and zombie knives.

The law also covers a wide range of items that are designed to cause injury or have been adapted for that purpose: Knuckledusters, metal items worn on the knuckles designed to cause injury.

CS gas and pepper spray, chemical sprays that cause temporary blindness and breathing difficulties.

Baton and extendable truncheons.

These are rigid sticks or collapsible metal rods used as striking weapons.

Disguised weapons, so any weapon that can be hidden inside everyday objects.

And bladed items, like shurikens, throwing stars, or kusari, weighted chains, sharp projectiles or flexible weapons designed to be thrown or swung.

Police Officer Paula tells us, "These weapons are illegal to own, carry, buy, sell, or import under any circumstances.

There is no good reason defense for possessing banned offensive weapons.

Even items not specifically banned can become offensive weapons if a person intends to use them to cause harm.

This includes everyday objects like baseball bats, hammers, or screwdrivers if carried with the intent to injure someone." It is illegal to sell a knife or offensive weapon to anyone under the age of 18, whether in a shop or online.

Attempting to buy a knife or weapon online or in a shop when under 18 is also a crime.

By law, sellers must carry out age checks for knives and certain weapons both in shops and online.

And this applies to all types of knives, including kitchen knives purchased for legitimate purposes, as well as items like imitation firearms, CS gas and pepper spray.

Police Officer Kofi tells us that the purpose of weapon-related laws is to prevent violence before it happens.

"The law allows police to act early, reducing the risk of serious harm to the public.

These laws are designed to protect young people and keep communities safe." It's time for another check for understanding.

Which of the following statements are true? Select two correct answers.

A, it is illegal to sell a weapon to anyone under 18.

B, attempting to buy a weapon under 18 is a crime.

Or C, sellers do not have to carry out age checks for knives.

The correct answers are A, it is illegal to sell a weapon to anyone under 18, and B, attempting to buy a weapon under 18 is a crime.

It's time for a task now.

Read each scenario and decide whether you think the law has been broken.

Explain why.

Use the words possession and offense in your answers.

1, a teenager has a small knife in their pocket, just in case.

2, a person buys a disguised weapon hidden inside a belt.

And 3, a 16-year-old tries to order a kitchen knife online.

You can pause the screen now and press play when you're ready to go through your answers.

Your responses might look like this.

For number 1, a teenager has a small knife in their pocket 'just in case.

' This is an offense.

The teenager has possession of a knife in public without a lawful reason.

Carrying a knife "just in case" is not a valid excuse.

Number 2, a person buys a disguised weapon hidden inside a belt.

This is also an offense.

This person is in possession of a disguised weapon.

The law bans disguised knives completely, so simply having one is enough to commit an offense.

And your responses may have continued: for 3, a 16-year-old tries to order a kitchen knife online.

This is an offense.

The young person is under 18 and cannot legally buy knives.

The seller would also commit an offense if they allowed the sale to go through.

Both the buyer and the seller are responsible.

Well done, it's time to move on to our second learning cycle: What are the legal consequences? Police Officer Paula says, "Breaking the law about knives and weapons has serious consequences for young people and adults." Carrying a knife or weapon without a lawful reason is a criminal offense.

A person can be arrested, charged and taken to court even if they never used the knife.

The law treats possession as serious because it creates risk to others.

The court does not need to see evidence of harm or intent to use the weapon, simply carrying it is enough for a conviction.

It's time for a check for understanding.

True or false? A person can only be arrested if they actually use the knife or weapon.

Is that true or is it false? Okay, the statement, a person can only be arrested if they actually use the knife or weapon, is false.

I wonder if you can tell me why.

Well, a person can be arrested for possession alone.

David is a youth worker.

He says, "The police have legal powers to stop, search, and arrest anyone they suspect being in possession of a weapon.

You don't have to have done anything wrong to be stopped and searched, the police just need reasonable grounds for suspicion.

This means the police must have a genuine reason, such as information they have received or something that they have observed, to believe someone might be carrying a knife or a weapon." If a weapon is found, the person can be arrested immediately, and the weapon will be confiscated.

The confiscated weapon is destroyed and cannot be reclaimed even if the person is not convicted.

This means that even if a case does not go to court, the knife or weapon is permanently removed.

Please keep records of all weapons seized, which helps them understand patterns of knife carrying in different areas.

It's time for a check for understanding.

What can the police do if they suspect someone is carrying a weapon? A, give them a warning and walk away.

B, stop and search them.

C, only act if a weapon is discovered.

Or D, arrest them if a weapon is found.

The correct answers are stop and search them.

And then, if a weapon is found, they could be arrested.

So B and D.

The punishment associated with knife crime or weapon carrying is serious and can affect somebody's whole future.

And in the illustration there, we can see a teenager inside a police station.

A person found guilty of carrying a knife can face a fine, a community sentence, or a prison sentence.

All of these outcomes result in a criminal record, an official record of a person's convictions that is kept by the police and can be checked by employers, universities, and other organizations.

In England and Wales, the maximum sentence for carrying a knife is four years in prison and an unlimited fine.

A criminal record is permanent.

It affects employment, education, and travel abroad.

David, our youth worker, says, "For young people under 18, the youth justice system applies, but the consequences are still serious.

You could receive a youth caution or youth conditional caution, a referral order, so working with a youth offending team, a youth rehabilitation order, detention in a young offenders institution.

And even a caution creates a criminal record that can affect your future." A criminal record must be declared on job and university applications.

Some employers may not hire someone with a criminal record.

Specific careers become impossible with a knife-related conviction, including teaching and working with children or vulnerable adults, joining the police, armed forces, or security services, many healthcare roles and roles in law or finance.

And a conviction can stop a person traveling to some countries, such as the USA.

It's time for another check for understanding.

True or false? The maximum prison sentence for carrying a knife in England and Wales is four years.

Is that true or is it false? The correct answer is true.

Police Officer Kofi says, "The consequences are meant to protect everyone and reduce knife and weapon crime in communities.

The law recognizes that knife crime devastates families and communities.

Every year, young lives are lost to weapon-related crime.

The strict laws exist because carrying a knife or weapon dramatically increases the risk of serious harm, both to the carrier and to others." The legal consequences act as a deterrent, making people think twice about carrying a weapon.

By creating serious penalties for possession alone, the law allows police to intervene early, before a weapon is ever used to cause harm.

It also sends a clear message that weapon-related crime will not be tolerated and that there are always alternatives to carrying a weapon.

Consequences show that society takes knife and weapon crime seriously.

Ms. Walsh is the Designated Safeguarding Lead, sometimes known as the DSL.

She says, "If you're worried about weapon-related crime, or if you know someone who carries a knife or weapon, you can: talk to a trusted adult, like a parent, carer or Designated Safeguarding Lead, DSL, at school.

Contact Childline for free and confidential advice or report anonymously to Fearless, which is Crimestoppers." It's time for a check for understanding.

How could a conviction for carrying a knife or other weapon affect someone's future opportunities? It might prevent them from getting jobs, studying at university, or traveling abroad.

It's time for our final task.

Answer the following questions.

Question 1: What can the police do if they suspect someone is carrying a weapon? Question 2: How can having a criminal record for a weapon offense affect someone's future opportunities? And question 3: Why does the law make the consequences of weapon possession so serious? You can pause the screen now and press play when you're ready to go through your answers.

Your responses to the questions might include: Question 1: What can the police do if they suspect someone is carrying a weapon? The police can stop and search a person if they suspect possession.

If a weapon is found, the person can be arrested and the weapon confiscated.

Question 2: How can having a criminal record for a weapon offense affect someone's future opportunities? A criminal record for a weapon offense can affect employment, education, and travel.

For example, some employers may not hire someone with a criminal record, and certain countries may not allow that person entry.

Your answers may have continued: For question 3: Why does the law make the consequences of weapon possession so serious? The law makes consequences serious to act as a deterrent.

It's designed to stop you from doing it.

This prevents people from carrying knives and weapons, reducing risk and protects the community.

Well done, you've worked really hard today.

Let's take a moment to summarize what we've learned.

Carrying or possessing a knife or offensive weapon without a lawful reason is a criminal offense.

The law covers knives, offensive weapons, and disguised weapons, as well as online sales to under 18s.

Police have the power to stop and search people, arrest them, and confiscate weapons.

The consequences include fines, prison sentences of up to four years, and a criminal record that can affect jobs, education, and travel.

These laws exist to protect communities and to prevent weapon-related violence before it happens.

It's always good to know where you might get further support.

You could access Childline, a website and phone line which is able to offer confidential advice and support, or Fearless, Crimestoppers youth service, which provides free confidential support and advice to anyone under 19 worried about violence, knife crime, or other issues.

Well done for all of your hard work today.

I hope you join us for another Oak National Academy lesson soon.