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spin

(17,493 posts)
28. Looking at the UK regulation on knives...
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 10:44 AM
Jun 2014

you can get in a world of trouble if caught carrying a pair of scissors in public.


Knife legislation

***snip***

United Kingdom

***snip***

Summary
In recent years, laws criminalising knife possession in the United Kingdom have been strictly interpreted and applied by police and prosecutors to citizens and foreigners alike of all ages and backgrounds, even where the evidence supporting the crime is in doubt.[52][58] This development, combined with increasingly frequent application of such laws to marginal or inadvertent offenders by the police and the public prosecutor[46][59][60] can easily result in an arrest and a criminal charge in the event a person carrying a folding knife, scissors, plastic knife, multi-tool, or bladed object is detained and searched, and the defendant may have to wait weeks or months for a trial or other disposition of his case by the public prosecutor.[45][58][61][62][63][64][65][66] HM Customs officials in the Customs Inspection unit at the Mount Pleasant Postal Depot in London, aware of the steadily narrowing interpretation of what constitutes a legal knife in England and Wales, have begun confiscating knives imported through the mail, going so far as to individually test otherwise legal locking and non-locking[67] bladed pocket knives to see if they can be made to open their blades to the fully opened position with a practised "double-action of the wrist"; those that open fully and thus fail the 'test' are confiscated and destroyed as illegal 'gravity knives' under the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959.[68]...emphasis added

Paradoxically, the acknowledged failure of previously enacted anti-knife legislation in reducing the number of violent crimes involving a knife[69] has led to demands for even stricter measures.[70][71] The likelihood of being detained and searched by the police in the United Kingdom depends frequently upon circumstances and the policies of the local constabulary, but is more likely to occur in areas noted for incidents of random assault and violent crime, where an individual encounters the police in the course of an investigation of a criminal complaint involving a knife, during vehicle stop-and-search operations at police checkpoints,[72] or where the police are conducting mass searches of the public at large in so-called dispersal zones as part of knife crime crackdown operations under Section 60 of the Public Order Act.[46][62][63][73][74][75]
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife_legislation


There are also some people in the UK who would like to see the sale of pointy kitchen knives banned.

11.45am
Doctors: Ban dagger-type kitchen knives


Sarah Left and agencies
theguardian.com, Friday 27 May 2005 06.42 EDT


A group of doctors today called on the government to ban long pointed kitchen knives in an effort to reduce the number and severity of stabbings.
Knives are the most common murder weapon in Britain, and three doctors from West Middlesex University hospital in London said their experience indicated that at least half of stabbing cases involved a kitchen knife.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, Emma Hern, Will Glazebrook and Mike Beckett said the use of dagger-type kitchen knives owed more to tradition than culinary necessity. The knives, they argued, could be banned without unduly inconveniencing cooks.

The doctors quoted findings that 24% of 16-year-old boys reported carrying knives or other weapons, with 19% admitting they had attacked someone. In the first two weeks of 2005 alone, 15 murders in the UK were linked to stabbings as well as 16 other non-fatal attacks.

The doctors said many assaults were impulsive, often triggered by alcohol or other drugs, and the long pointed kitchen knife was an easily available lethal weapon, especially in the home.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/may/27/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation


I will agree that we could live in a world where the sale of firearms to civilians was illegal. That would do little to address the 300,000,000 firearms we currently have in our nation and the millions that are added every year.

I doubt if such a law will every pass in my lifetime and probably not in yours. If it did it would create a black market for firearms and some very lethal fully automatic weapons as well as more common firearms would be smuggled into our nation from other nations. Tons of illegal drugs are smuggled into our nation every year. It would be easier and very profitable to sneak firearms across our border. Also any good machine shop can manufacture firearms.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Sounds like self-defense to me!!! n/t RKP5637 Jun 2014 #1
I absolutely agree! get the red out Jun 2014 #3
Yep, I can certainly relate to that! n/t RKP5637 Jun 2014 #6
+1000s DinahMoeHum Jun 2014 #27
in his autobiography hfojvt Jun 2014 #85
A child is murdered... Lancero Jun 2014 #10
Bullying needs to be brought under control to help stop future tragedies like this. n/t RKP5637 Jun 2014 #13
You clearly did not read the article. n/t ieoeja Jun 2014 #29
You clearly have nothing wrong with a CHILD being murdered. Lancero Jun 2014 #41
It is murder. It is also self defense. But I wouldn't classify it as legally justified self defense. ieoeja Jun 2014 #51
Well, he attempted Aerows Jun 2014 #53
I'm grateful that the bullied child will have a chance to recover Orrex Jun 2014 #56
Post removed Post removed Jun 2014 #118
Holy shit--you really need to uncrank yourself Orrex Jun 2014 #121
No. Your post was... Lancero Jun 2014 #122
I know what I wrote Orrex Jun 2014 #123
See the topic title? Lancero Jun 2014 #124
So let me get this straight: Orrex Jun 2014 #125
Thats assuming you do share the same opinion. Lancero Jun 2014 #126
He did not include the "sarcasm" tag, but his point tblue37 Jun 2014 #138
Compassion for criminals... Lancero Jun 2014 #117
Bullshit NobodyHere Jun 2014 #132
You left out any reference to his self-defense, which comes from the OP's article: pacalo Jun 2014 #101
Justify the senseless murder of a child however you wish. Lancero Jun 2014 #119
Kneejerk moralizing without any actual analysis of the situation. DireStrike Jun 2014 #151
Read the article; your comment seems to serve as another reason pacalo Jun 2014 #100
First comment in this topic, first reply, and first and second reply to that. Lancero Jun 2014 #120
Sounds like it, but it's not so straight forward Renew Deal Jun 2014 #73
Yeah, there seems to be disagreement about whether Crump was one of the bullies. Vattel Jun 2014 #99
The kid was regularly beaten up Aerows Jun 2014 #130
Notice that there was a security guard--but he didn't do anything until after tblue37 Jun 2014 #139
There very well could have been two sides to Timothy jmowreader Jun 2014 #141
Shouldn't be charged as an adult. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #2
also the child does not have the choice of walking away because he is KurtNYC Jun 2014 #20
amen, demigoddess Jun 2014 #31
This was his first day back at school, too Aerows Jun 2014 #48
Ouch, I hate to be glad about someone's death mindwalker_i Jun 2014 #69
And the poor kid was beaten and robbed by this bully a few weeks ago Aerows Jun 2014 #45
What? Possumpoint Jun 2014 #4
Fail. Kitchen knives have a non-lethal purpose. nt stevenleser Jun 2014 #5
A knife can be a deadly weapon just like a firearm. ... spin Jun 2014 #8
"Can be" versus "only purpose". Still fail. nt stevenleser Jun 2014 #9
I'm owned and used firearms for well over 40 years. ... spin Jun 2014 #14
If you were the only gun owner, then we wouldn't have a problem. Orrex Jun 2014 #21
So a firearm that is used for legitimate self defense is useless? ... spin Jun 2014 #30
That was not my assertion, and your post merely underscores my point. Orrex Jun 2014 #32
So are you saying that my mother's use of a handgun to stop her rape or murder ... spin Jun 2014 #39
How are you so totally misreading my point? Orrex Jun 2014 #42
A gun is a tool to be used for a number of tasks. ... spin Jun 2014 #67
The gun's primary purpose Orrex Jun 2014 #68
Since you are "not making any assesment about the good or evil of a firearm" then ... spin Jun 2014 #70
Maybe I should have opened with that. Orrex Jun 2014 #71
It probably would have avoided a misuse of a bunch of electrons... spin Jun 2014 #78
tell that to the guy who accidentally demigoddess Jun 2014 #34
Obviously it is wise to take a firearms safety course if you own firearms. ... spin Jun 2014 #36
always point the gun in a safe direction? demigoddess Jun 2014 #115
That's a fair point. ... spin Jun 2014 #116
Not sure you read my post. demigoddess Jun 2014 #135
You might think all cops are well trained and safe with firearms. ... spin Jun 2014 #145
you also forget that we live demigoddess Jun 2014 #146
Much depends on where you live in our nation. ... spin Jun 2014 #147
every young child that dies demigoddess Jun 2014 #148
I realize that firearms are extremely dangerous. ... spin Jun 2014 #149
Major thread hijack! I am all for gun control, but this is not a gun control thread. nt tblue37 Jun 2014 #140
And your point is? Guns can be regulated. Knives basically cannot. MillennialDem Jun 2014 #12
Knives are regulated in many states. ... spin Jun 2014 #17
You are not taking the interpretation of knife seriously enough. All one needs to do is carry MillennialDem Jun 2014 #19
Looking at the UK regulation on knives... spin Jun 2014 #28
Could you get in trouble for carrying a pair of scissors in public? Yes. Is it likely if you are in MillennialDem Jun 2014 #43
That's a fair point about same sex marriage. .... spin Jun 2014 #64
Not to mention guns could be enforceably banned but knives never can be. There are MillennialDem Jun 2014 #11
What kind of cryptic logic is that? I recall some blowhole... Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #23
Firearms have nonlethal purposes, too, aikoaiko Jun 2014 #81
Nope, but there is always some jerk looking to exploit a tragedy. Renew Deal Jun 2014 #15
Been told some controllers do it all the time. Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #24
Just to clarify: Orrex Jun 2014 #35
Don't like "controllers?" How about "banners?" Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #61
How about zealous controllers? aikoaiko Jun 2014 #82
I refuse to control my zeal Orrex Jun 2014 #83
There's a dead child here leftynyc Jun 2014 #18
+1 daleanime Jun 2014 #55
+1000 smirkymonkey Jun 2014 #94
Yep. Lots of people feel the same way laundry_queen Jun 2014 #95
Kitchen knives can't accidentally go off when picked up. n/t Dawgs Jun 2014 #22
Not entirely accurate, but you make a terrific point Orrex Jun 2014 #37
Modern firearms rarely go off accidentally. ... spin Jun 2014 #40
Or if they fall to the floor or get stuck on something. Orrex Jun 2014 #44
Most modern handguns with a few exceptions are drop safe. ... spin Jun 2014 #62
Tell that to the guy who was celebrating the arrival of his newborn.. Dawgs Jun 2014 #74
Doesn't sound like the gun's fault to me. ... spin Jun 2014 #77
Point is knife doesn't have a trigger to pull and isn't the same thing. Dawgs Jun 2014 #79
Nice try on your part to call an obvious negligent discharge an accidental discharge caused by ... spin Jun 2014 #84
Negligent or not is still an accident, and that's the point. n/t Dawgs Jun 2014 #87
A negligent discharge is NOT an accident. ... spin Jun 2014 #88
Killing an innocent human being was most definitely an accident. Dawgs Jun 2014 #102
A good number of those who own firearms and practice gun safety would agree with me ... spin Jun 2014 #108
Still hung up on what accident means, huh? Dawgs Jun 2014 #109
I did acknowledge that if the shooter did not have the weapon the incident would have never ... spin Jun 2014 #110
Not surprising that you guessed wrong. Dawgs Jun 2014 #111
You probably know gun owners who have had negligent discharges. ... spin Jun 2014 #112
Guessing again, huh? Dawgs Jun 2014 #113
Ah gee. Well I enjoyed our discussion. Have a good day. (n/t) spin Jun 2014 #114
Aw. Iggo Jun 2014 #47
+1 nomorenomore08 Jun 2014 #92
imagine, if he had a gun he could have attacked his school samsingh Jun 2014 #57
Oh, stop. crim son Jun 2014 #90
Fist can too. But your inane logic, time to cut off hands. EPIC FAIL Feeling the Bern Dec 2016 #153
mulitple times the mother reported the bullying Vattel Jun 2014 #7
Bullies are authority figures in schools where teachers have little. Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #26
Well put get the red out Jun 2014 #33
Thank you. Google up "bullying UCLA study"... Eleanors38 Jun 2014 #49
SAD Mr Dixon Jun 2014 #16
Altering the routine ultimately worked for me Submariner Jun 2014 #128
If everyone only had guns...gungeoneer logic. nt valerief Jun 2014 #25
Payback can be a _____. Life lesson for would be bullies Exposethefrauds Jun 2014 #38
Poor young persons life ended way too soon. NCTraveler Jun 2014 #46
The kid that stabbed the bully Aerows Jun 2014 #50
If that is the truth, you are correct. Very sad he felt there was no other way out. NCTraveler Jun 2014 #54
I linked another article below. Aerows Jun 2014 #59
Thank you. Going to read it now. Sad all around. nt. NCTraveler Jun 2014 #60
Here's another article that is pretty enlightening. Aerows Jun 2014 #52
We need to recognize that those who witness bullying and do nothing are part of the problem. KittyWampus Jun 2014 #105
I agree. Aerows Jun 2014 #133
In Catholic elementary school, I was bullied terribly adigal Jun 2014 #58
I have never understood... gvstn Jun 2014 #63
I have wondered about this a lot and wrote an article about it a few years back... stevenleser Jun 2014 #96
Thanks! gvstn Jun 2014 #97
Thanks. KittyWampus Jun 2014 #106
Interesting... sarisataka Jun 2014 #65
Murder is never the solution. dilby Jun 2014 #66
Maybe he carried the knife as a general ohheckyeah Jun 2014 #129
I saw another article about this in NY today that said the kid that was killed was an angel Renew Deal Jun 2014 #72
I'm not a psychologist Blue_Tires Jun 2014 #75
This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles Jun 2014 #76
"The suspect, Noel Estevez of the Bronx, was charged as an adult" cpwm17 Jun 2014 #80
It looks like they were Friends and hung out together JI7 Jun 2014 #86
2 lives lost Nuclear Unicorn Jun 2014 #89
Exactly Boom Sound 416 Jun 2014 #103
I'm against what he did... Rhinodawg Jun 2014 #91
Sounds more like manslaughter than murder, if the allegations against the victim are true. n/t nomorenomore08 Jun 2014 #93
Would he be charged as an adult if his surname was Smith? rustydog Jun 2014 #98
Yes, because prosecutors are elected jmowreader Jun 2014 #136
So the NEIGHBORS SAW AND KNEW? They knew the kid was being abused and did nothing? KittyWampus Jun 2014 #104
Similar cases Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2014 #107
Post removed Post removed Jun 2014 #127
Revenge of the Nerd! KamaAina Jun 2014 #131
KamaAina, I like you -- but with a fourteen year old dead and another being tried as an fishwax Jun 2014 #134
If more of those of us who are bullied would fight back KamaAina Jun 2014 #137
Whoa! It is more complicated than it seems. The kid with the knife had been recently tblue37 Jun 2014 #142
there seems to be much more to this JI7 Jun 2014 #143
One article I read said he used to be friends with the other boy and actually tblue37 Jun 2014 #144
Usually Bullied Kids Use the Knife On Themselves AnnieBW Jun 2014 #150
another kid charged as an adult. why aren't bullies charged as an adult? Sunlei Jun 2014 #152
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