Ahead of the new Offensive Weapons Act 2019, the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA), which represents many of the leading UK suppliers of housewares has entered the public consultations on the planned legislation. The Association is urging all suppliers and retailers of bladed items to do the same. The deadline for submissions is next week: Wednesday October 9.
The consultation document can be found by visiting https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/offensive-weapons-act-2019-draft-statutory-guidance
BHETA’s own challenge to the latest draft of the Act follows the most recent meeting of BHETA’s consultative taskforce on responsible knife retailing comprising most of the top kitchen knife retailers and suppliers. The meeting included a detailed study of the draft document, which revealed several changes from earlier versions, most of which were previously unknown to the suppliers and retailers at the meeting, as well as several discrepancies.
The main issue among the many queries arising is the revised definition of ‘bladed item’ in the context of the act. In the latest draft, products such as cutlery, scissors and garden secateurs were included in the widening parameters of this crucial definition, something not previously the case.
The BHETA taskforce also raised the issue of contradictions between different parts of the document and imprecise meanings in critical aspects of the draft legislation. Specific examples included what constitutes a defence regarding the different terms covered in the new Act, the lack of clarity in the definition of a residential address, given the prevalence of home working and the role of distribution companies in carrying out retailer or supplier compliance.
BHETA’s marketing manager Steve Richardson commented, “Given how serious and complex the issue of knife crime is, it is worrying that the proposed legislation remains so contradictory and poorly defined. The responsible retailing of bladed items depends on the ability of all parties to collaborate effectively. BHETA convened its taskforce to help ensure that suppliers and retailers can work together effectively between themselves and jointly with other interested parties such as trading standards and the police. It is essential that the forthcoming legislation is both sensible and clear, so that this can be achieved.”
The BHETA responsible knife retailing taskforce includes leading brands such as John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Lakeland, Dunelm, T K Maxx, Elys of Wimbledon, Harts of Stur, Taylor’s Eye Witness, Amefa, Fiskars, Meyer Group, Haus, Burton McCall, Kuhn Rikon, The Rayware Group and Robert Welch Designs.
* For more information about BHETA, BHETA lobbying and the BHETA responsible knife retailing campaign and BHETA lobbying, contact the Member Services Team on 0121 237 1130 or visit the BHETA website www.bheta.co.uk.
Top: Cutlery is mentioned in the most recent draft of The Offensive Weapons Act 2019. Image of cutlery canteen is courtesy of Arthur Price.
