Anyone over the age of 10 can be charged and taken to court if they are caught with a knife or other sharp offensive weapon. Even if it is the first time they have been stopped by the police. If you are caught carrying a knife, even if it is not your knife and you are carrying for someone else, you may recieve a community sentence, a fine or imporisoned. 

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Even if you are under the age of 18, you don't have to be an adult in order to be prosecuted or imprisoned. Children can go and do go to prison too. Your age won't stop you from being punished. 

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If you are found to be carrying a knife, you could face imprisonment for up to 4 years, 5 years for a gun, even if you are carrying it for someone else. 

In worst case scenario, if you have injured or killed someone, regardless of the circumstances you could face life imprisonment. 

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Today, the law, especially the judge who will be doing the sentencing are making examples with their sentences. Anyone found with a weapon, especially a knife are not getting off lightly. Judges, the CPS and prosecutors will all be pushing for the most severe possible sentence.

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The best thing to do? Don't carry a knife or any other weapon. Be smart and don't carry for yourself or for anyone esle. You are the one who will be in trouble. Carrying a knife does not only risk ending a life, but it also risks changing lives, specifically your life. Once you have a ciminal record, you will have this forever. It does not go away and it can greatly impact future oppotunities such as jobs, careers, relationships and travelling. Some countries will prohibit you from entering.  

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Something else you should know about. Something called 'Joint Enterprise'. 

This is a section of the law which allows two or more poeple to be convicted of the same crime. It is used to prosecute someone who intentionally "assists or encourages" an offence or when there is confusion of who actually carried out a crime. If found guilty, they are punished as harshly as if they had been the principle offender. 

Which means if someone you are with is carrying a knife or a weapon and that person is involved in a knife crime then you are as in as much trouble as they are. Here are some examples:

• You were or are part of a gang or group and someone in that gang or group attackled someone or kills someone with a knife. 

• You supported the attackers actions or encouraged their actions.

• You knew that your friend was carrying a weapon and did not intervene.

• You knew your friend was going to attack someone else and did not intervene.

Even if you did not carry out the attack, you are just as responsbile and accountable in the eyes of the law. 

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If you are carrying the knife, it is assumed that the knife belongs to you. Telling the police that it is not your knife, or using the excuse that you were told to carry it will not reduce the severity of the consequences. The knife, weapon or illegal object or substance will be seen as yours. You will be held responsible and accountable for the crime and offence. 

Carrying a weapon or a knife for someone carries other risks too, expecially if that weapon or knife has previously been used to harm someone else. Even after washing and cleaning objects can still hold molecules of blood and other materials, forensic anaylsis can and will identify evidence such as material and blood. If you are found to be carrying or holding or hiding this weapon the chances are your finger prints will be all over the object and this will carry the opinion that you are the prime suspect. You will be arrested and charged for the crimes of others. Think before you carry, hold or hide a weapon such as a knife.

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