what do you open boxes with? I totally understand that the U.K. has troubles with knife crimes. But I also hear rumors that seemingly ban all pocket knives. I could not work around my farm on a daily basis without my knife, and I wonder what the actual restrictions are in the U.K. Can someone enlighten me? Al
Hello Al, laws are complex, but the links below give some information. Laws in Scotland often differ from those in England, but not on this topic as far as i can tell, but i'm not a lawyer! Jeff. https://www.gov.uk/find-out-if-i-can-buy-or-carry-a-knife https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q337.htm
Thank you Jeff. It looks like there is a reasonable amount of judgement given to the officer. 3" is long enough for a pocket knife. I have longer, but rarely carry them for work. ay
That's handy Jeff, the first paragraph of the second link is contradictory to the first link! Easy to see how confusion can arise Yes its less than 3" but with good/genuine reason for having it! A youth in tescos with a hunting knife on his belt, no chance. A crofter with a folding knife in his pocket, generally hidden in public, no probs. Alec.
The one thing that I noted with interest is that "they" don't like blades that can be locked open. I won't buy a folding knife where the blade can't be locked open since an unlocked blade is dangerous to the user. I've had my hand cut badly twice by a blade closing on the tops of my fingers, and those knives have gone in the garbage.
This was discussed at some length on CCS last year. My edited post from then, based on discussions with my daughter and son-in-law who are both Police Officers: Yes the knife laws in the UK are strict, but then we are a small island with no jungles or rattlesnakes. People don't need to routinely carry a 9" knife to fend off critter attacks. The 3" folding non-lockable blade applies to knives than can be carried for everyday use. ie.. A Leatherman/Swiss Army Knife in a belt holder that you can carry whilst going about your normal daily life. Should be sufficient for most people. Other types of knives may be carried with 'reasonable cause'. For instance, a fisherman can have a 6" filleting knife, a chef can carry his kitchen knives, a diver can carry a leg knife, a hunter may carry a fixed blade hunting knife etc.. But, they can only be carried in public whilst involved in that activity. The fisherman's knife must be packed away when he's not fishing. He can't have it on his belt whilst having a post-fishing pint in the pub. The divers knife must be packed away with his diving gear, not stored in the car door pocket. The law is there to stop the pond life carrying a 6" knife to a football game or nightclub. Personally, I don't feel that my rights or liberties are being infringed as I can still use pretty much any knife I like with 'reasonable cause'. I can't imagine a situation where I would have a knife without reasonable cause, so it's not a problem. There are religious exemptions. For example a Sikh Kirpan is exempt, as are all knives carried for religious reasons or as part of a national dress. However, if they waved them aggressively at passers-by, they would be breaking the law. Essentially it's a matter of common sense. Terry
Yes but do you really want to be in a position where you may be arrested and charged and have to present your "reasonable cause" defence in court so a jury can decide if it is actually reasonable.
Here in Norway the limit is 2". An electrician I once knew got in big trouble with the police when he carried a 6" knife instead of the 2" VMC knife we are allowed to carry. Normally I carry a Victorinox knife in its leather belt-holder.
I certainly have a sense for the circumstances demanding constraint on what could be considered weapons, and I also have no doubt than a peace officer would exercise sound judgement considering the circumstances. I lived in New York City for 7 years, and I'm familiar with street violence. It just gives me pause since a knife has always been in my pocket from as young as 12 years old. It's that utility tool that we explored our world with. Well, such is life. Like guns in the U.S.: If you want to enjoy them, you need to move into the boonies where your neighbors won't mind the noise (and probably share the same passion). Cheers, Al
Whether something goes to court depends on people who actually know the law, NOT the police who rarely if ever do... If you have reasonable cause to be carrying it then you are very unlikely to be prosecuted for it.
True, but an arrest is more likely, particularly given the hysteria surrounding knife-carrying these days. I had a quick look around the internet and found this page: http://www.northumbria.police.uk/ebeat/myhub/besafe/knives/index.asp Of course this page may not reflect actual police policy, but it does seem to imply that anyone caught carrying a knife will be automatically arrested, and will get to provide their reason in custody, presumably after hours of detention.
But that website and the quote is non-specific. It does not say what kinds of knife is against the law, and in doing so just provides more inaccuracies about what can be carried and what cannot.
The website is obviously aimed at kids. "MyHub is for young people to find information about Northumbria Police, crime, drugs, alcohol and social networking." As most knife crime in the UK is committed by young people in urban areas, I guess they are just trying to put a message across as simply as possible. I don't think it implies that anyone caught carrying a knife will be automatically arrested. It does imply that any 16 year old carrying a knife in Newcastle City centre will be arrested, as they will find it difficult to claim 'reasonable cause'.
