Offensive Weapons Act 2019

The long-awaited Offensive Weapons Bill has been passed into law today, when it received royal assent, and became the Offensive Weapons Act.

We’re still waiting to hear when the provisions of the Act will come into force. Like you, we’re keeping an eye on announcements from the Home Office and Parliament, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/offensive-weapons-act-receives-royal-assent ...and here: https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/offensiveweapons/stages.html

There are two broad areas which will affect our customers.

Age verification on delivery For years, we’ve carried out age verification on customers purchasing knives and bladed items. That won’t change. The new Act additionally requires that the item is then delivered only to a person aged over 18. You, as a Heinnie Haynes® customer won’t notice much difference, you’ll be able to place your order as normal, and have it delivered to your home. You’ll notice that the delivery driver will check that you’re over 18, and then hand over your parcel. If you’re not going to be in, no problem, you can choose to have your parcel delivered to one of our click and collect locations for you to pick up at your convenience. It’s business as normal at Heinnie.com®

Updated definition of a “flick knife” For several years, there has been uncertainty over the precise definition of a “flick knife”. We’d all probably recognise a 1950’s stiletto from the movies, but this Act has added other knives into the same prohibited classification. Briefly, the Act prohibits “…any knife which has a blade which opens automatically…by manual pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the knife…” That means no more spring assists or flippers.

Again, customers shopping at Heinnie.com® are safe in the knowledge that all the knives that we sell fit within the spirit and letter of the law.

You can continue to shop with confidence at Heinnie.com®, and read the full text of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 here.