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Bladed articles and offensive weapons (having in public/education premises and threats) – children and young people

s.120 Coroners and Justice Act 2009 · Crown Court / Magistrates

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Sentencing framework

The guidelines prioritize the seriousness of the offence, assessing both culpability and harm, alongside statutory minimums for certain offences. Aggravating factors such as previous convictions or premeditation can increase sentences, while mitigating factors like co-operation with authorities or lack of previous offences may reduce them. Personal circumstances, including youth and mental health issues, are also considered when determining appropriate sentences.

Maximum sentence

4 months Detention and Training Order (statutory minimum)

Court

Crown Court / Magistrates

Offence range

Discharge - 4 months custody

Aggravating factors

  • ·Previous findings of guilt related to the current offence
  • ·Offence committed while on bail
  • ·Significant degree of planning or premeditation
  • ·Deliberate humiliation of victim
  • ·Victim is particularly vulnerable
  • ·Offence committed as part of a group
  • ·Attempts to conceal identity
  • ·Commission of offence whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Mitigating factors

  • ·No findings of guilt or no relevant/recent findings of guilt
  • ·Good character or exemplary conduct
  • ·Participated in offence due to bullying, peer pressure, coercion or manipulation
  • ·Little or no planning
  • ·Co-operation with the police

Sentencing range explorer

Select the culpability level and harm category to see the guideline's starting point and category range. This is an educational illustration of the published guideline — not a sentence calculation, and not legal advice. Courts apply the full step-by-step process, aggravating and mitigating factors, and the totality principle.

Culpability

Harm

Select a culpability level and a harm category above.

The sentencing process, step by step

  1. Step 1 — Offence seriousness - nature of the offence
  2. Step 2 — Offence seriousness - aggravating and mitigating factors
  3. Step 3 — Personal mitigation
  4. Step 4 — Reduction for guilty pleas
  5. Step 5 — Statutory minimum sentencing provisions
  6. Step 6 — Review the sentence
  7. Step 7 — Ancillary orders

Guideline notes

  • This offence is subject to statutory minimum sentencing provisions.

Always read the full guideline

This is a one-page summary. For any live case, sentencing exercise, or legal advice the authoritative source is the Sentencing Council's own definitive guideline — including the category bands, step-by-step sentencing approach, and all statutory factors not captured here.

Open the full guideline on sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Source: Sentencing Council · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-28. Not legal advice — see a regulated adviser for any live case.