Part 5: Threatening with offensive weapons Section 52: Offence of threatening with an offensive weapon etc in a private place
Section 52 creates a new offence of threatening another person with an offensive weapon, bladed or pointed article or corrosive substance in a private place in such a way that there is an immediate risk of serious physical harm (subsections (1) and (2)).
	Subsection (3) provides that for offensive weapons and bladed or pointed articles a private place means any place other than a public place or school or further education premises. Subsection (4) provides that for a corrosive substance, private place means anywhere other than a public place.
	Subsection (6) prescribes penalties. The offence is punishable on summary conviction to a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine or both and on indictment to a term of imprisonment of up to 4 years, or by a fine or by both. The 12 months maximum sentence is contingent on section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 coming into force and until that time the maximum sentence will be six months.
	Subsection (8) sets out the definitions of "corrosive substance", "further education premises", "school premises" and "public place".
	This section forms part of the law of England and Wales.