It was for the judge to determine whether an item was a "bladed article" for the purposes of s.139 Criminal Justice Act 1988, but the test was not whether the item was capable of causing injury, and entailed reference to a cutting edge. The section was intended to deter carrying of sharp instruments in public, not any article that could be said to have a blade.

CA (Crim Div) (Buxton LJ, Rougier J, Judge Denison QC)

24/02/1998