When sentencing the offences of;
- Possession of an offensive weapon in a public place;
- Possession of an article with a blade/ point in a public place;
- Possession of an offensive weapon on school premises; and
- Possession of an article with blade/ point on school premises
a court must impose a sentence of at least 6 months imprisonment where this is a second or further relevant offence unless the court is of the opinion that there are particular circumstances relating to the offence or the offender which make it unjust to do so in all the circumstances.
A ‘relevant offence’ includes those offences listed above and the following offences;
- Threatening with an offensive weapon in a public place;
- Threatening with an article with a blade/ point in a public place;
- Threatening with an article with a blade/ point on school premises; and
- Threatening with an offensive weapon on school premises.