Weapons offencesVerified against official source

Possessing a prohibited weapon (s.5(1)) — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 10 years

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Indictable only for most s.5 weapons. A mandatory minimum sentence also applies — see next tier.

Prohibited weapons — mandatory minimum (Sentencing Act 2020 s.311)

Imprisonment

Minimum 5 years (aged 18+ at offence) / 3 years (under 18 at offence)

Fine

Unlimited fine (may accompany custody)

Applies to Sch 20 offences (including s.5 prohibited weapons and ss.16, 16A, 17, 18, 19, 20(1) in respect of prohibited weapons) unless the court finds exceptional circumstances.

Manufacturing / distributing prohibited weapons (s.5(2A)) — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – life

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Possession with intent to endanger life / injure property (s.16) — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – life

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Possession with intent to cause fear of violence (s.16A) — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 10 years

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Use to resist arrest (s.17(1)) / possessing firearm while committing a Sch 1 offence (s.17(2)) / carrying with criminal intent (s.18(1)) — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – life

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Carrying a firearm / imitation firearm in a public place (s.19) — summary

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months

Fine

£0–£400 (as written in Sch 6)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Summary only except where the firearm is a s.5 prohibited weapon (indictment only then).

Carrying a firearm / imitation firearm in a public place (s.19) — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 7 years

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Trespassing with a firearm in a building (s.20(1)) — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 7 years

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Summary tier also exists (6 months / £400) for non-prohibited firearms.

Possession / supply of a firearm by or to a person prohibited by previous conviction (s.21(4)–(5))

Imprisonment

Summary: 0–6 months; indictment: 0–5 years

Fine

Summary: £0–£400; indictment: unlimited fine

Either-way.

Bladed article in a public place (CJA 1988 s.139) — summary

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 6 months

Fine

Unlimited fine (statutory maximum)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Either-way. Folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches or less is excluded.

Bladed article in a public place (CJA 1988 s.139) — on indictment

Imprisonment

0 (no mandatory prison) – 4 years

Fine

Unlimited fine

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Repeat knife / offensive-weapon offence (Sentencing Act 2020 s.315)

Imprisonment

Minimum 6 months' custody (21+); 6 months' detention in a young offender institution (18–20); 4 months' detention and training order (under 18)

Fine

Unlimited fine (may accompany custody)

Applies where the offender (16+) has a relevant prior conviction for a knife / offensive-weapon offence, unless exceptional circumstances (offences on/after the PCSC Act 2022 s.124 commencement) or unjust (earlier offences).