Corrosive products and corrosive substances
Section 29 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 prohibits the throwing or applying to any person, any corrosive fluid with the intent to burn, maim, disfigure, or disable any person or to do some grievous bodily harm to any person. Section 18 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 concerns the causing of grievous bodily harm with intent. Section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 prohibits the possession in any public place of an offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. The term "offensive weapon" is defined as "any article made or adapted for use to cause injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with them for such use".
	The sale of certain types of acids, and other dangerous corrosive chemicals, is controlled by the Poisons Act 1972 (the "1972 Act"), as amended by the Deregulation Act 2015. The 1972 Act draws a distinction between "regulated" substances and "reportable substances". Regulated substances – which contain high concentrations of certain chemicals – are now restricted from sale to the general public. If a member of the general public wants to buy any of the regulated substances, they need to apply to the Home Office for a licence to import, acquire and to possess and use. Reportable substances can be bought without a licence, but retailers are required to report suspicious transactions and significant losses and thefts.