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<p>Keeping people safe is the Government’s top priority, including from violent crime
involving the misuse of knives and other offensive weapons.</p><p> </p><p>Under provisions
in the Criminal Justice Act 1988 it is unlawful to sell a machete to a person under
the age of 18 and it is also an offence to have a machete in a public place without
lawful authority or good reason.</p><p> </p><p>Under the provisions of the Offensive
Weapons Act 2019 we are introducing further measures to address crime involving bladed
items including stopping bladed items being sent to residential addresses after they
are bought online, unless the seller has arrangements in place with the delivery company
to ensure that the product would not be delivered into the hands of a person under
18.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of machete owners use them for legitimate reasons such
as gardening, camping or agricultural use. Where a machete is misused as a weapon,
there are a range of offences that the offender may be charged with, such as causing
grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences, including life imprisonment
in instances of murder.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to keep the legislation on bladed
articles and offensive weapons under review.</p>
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