It is illegal to carry an offensive weapon like a knife in a public place without a “good reason”, even if you don’t intend to use it.

The maximum penalty for carrying a knife illegally is either four years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

A good reason for carrying a knife can include if it is a trade tool, for religious reasons, or a pen knife less than three inches long.

However, possessing a legal knife becomes illegal if it is used to cause injury or harm.

Police can stop and search anyone they believe is carrying a weapon.

Although knife crime receives a lot of media coverage, only 1-in-100 young people in South Wales carry a knife (South Wales Police data 2024)

There is no “safe” place to stab someone.

From July 2021 to June 2022, 40% of hospital visits in Wales for knife injuries involved people 24 and younger.

Many young people carry knives for self-defence or due to safety concerns.

Some young people carry knives because they’ve been pressured to do so, to gain credibility among peers, or to intimidate others.

By carrying a knife, you are more likely to get injured or stabbed yourself.

In some parts of the UK, you are statistically more likely to get stabbed by your own knife than someone else’s.

Many instances of knife crime are related to criminal activity like the drug trade. Criminal gangs may even exploit a young person to get involved in their activities, like so-called ‘County Lines’.

If you have a criminal record, you may not be able to visit other countries, like the United States.