Prosecuted for having a Swiss Army Knife

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doug748

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Last time the forum considered this question it was thought that this would not happen, however...
In a first class triumph for British justice we have nailed another criminal. In this case the 61 year old disabled man who carried the swiss army knife in his car glovebox.
He has been fined for "carrying an offensive weapon" said the Crown Prosecution Service.
40 quid fine - criminal record, makes you feel all warm inside.
Torquay Magistrates - Western Morning News Sat 17th
 
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The police breathalysed him and when he passed they looked for something else to do him for. It's natural really, they have to show us who's boss. PC Shiny Buttons isn't an isolated example.
 
This sort of thing really hacks me off, but the older I get, the more I get hacked off.

I think soft targets was mentioned in another thread.


Any information on who the officers, prosecution, magistrates were ?

So they can be shamed in public.

That is the only way things of this sort can be prevented, but I suspect ALL of them can hide behind some law, rule or whatever.

Shame on all those who perpetrated this
 
starfire said:
Any information on who the officers, prosecution, magistrates were ?

So they can be shamed in public.
Click to expand...

Torquay Magistrates.

Devon and Cornwall Police

Crown Prosecution Service

That is as near as we can get.

There is a picture of Mr Knowles and his knife, the blade is clearly less than 3in long.

I suspect, and hope, we will be hearing more of this abomination.
 
doug748 said:
Torquay Magistrates.

Devon and Cornwall Police

Crown Prosecution Service

That is as near as we can get.

There is a picture of Mr Knowles and his knife, the blade is clearly less than 3in long.

I suspect, and hope, we will be hearing more of this abomination.
Click to expand...

Blimey!! Mr Knowles and his knife eh? Good of the 'ol judge to give him it back for the publicity shot then wasn't it? Considering it had been confiscated by the court.

Nice gesture by the judge I reckon...:D :D: :D
 
You cannot be prosecuted if the blade is less than 3", it is expressly excluded. If on the other hand it is longer than 3" the stupid laws combined with a lack of common sense produce results like this.
 
As my camper van has kitchen knives, along with all the wooden spoons, pots and pans and other utensils, how do I avoid prosecution?,
 
In my day at school , not one of us would think that we were properly equipped without a knife - scout knife, army knife or whatever, no one, for a moment would have thought of using it as a weapon.
What a sick society it has become - both many of the young and also the 'forces of law and order'!!!
 
Seven Spades said:
You cannot be prosecuted if the blade is less than 3", it is expressly excluded.
Click to expand...

Quite, but how is it measured? The snap of the gents knife clearly shows a diminutive blade.

He has a knife with multiple blades, maybe they add the lengths together?

Maybe they choose to measure the blade including the handle?

Maybe they just bullied the guy into pleading guilty?

Maybe we all live with Alice in Wonderland.
 
If it is all as reported then he should appeal against the sentence.

However, before heaping opprobrium on the entire judicial system, we should be sure that what was reported actually happened and in the way reported.

It is not at all unusual for court reporting to be somewhat skewed to make 'better' copy.

After all the 20 column inches of error on page one can always be apologised for in one column inch on page 35 later.

Tom
 
I have been through this stupidity when my diving knife was spotted in my car at a petrol station. Subsequently, I got pulled over and ended up in the nick with my very nasty looking diving knife.

It is only an offensive weapon if it was manufactured or altered with the intention of causing harm to humans, or if you intend to use it in an offensive manner.

Mr Plod: Why are you carrying this offensive weapon?
Answer: It is not an offensive weapon because it was manufactured as a diving knife and not for stabbing people.

Mr Plod: Why are you carrying this knife.
Answer: I am going to my boat and this knife is necessary as a piece of emergency equipment for cutting rope from around my propeller.

After 2 hours in the nick and having spouted my line about it not being an offensive weapon the knife was returned to me and I was sent on my way. Don’t ever admit that you are carrying an offensive weapon. The lying cheating pigs will have you if you do.
 
I hope you're right

The facts, as reported on this forum, do not seem to justify the charge. Perhaps the reporting is skewed, after all, the media are not known for playing down the truth.
I carry a swiss army knife all the time, mainly because I smoke a pipe and use the knife to clean the bowl. It would never cross my mind that I was breaking the law.
At the other end of the culpability scale, I recall one well known drug dealer who kept an axe in his car door pocket. So much depends on the surrounding circumstances and these are not always reported.
Briefly put, one needs to show reasonable cause for being in possession of a knife, though I think there is an exemption for a folding knife with a blaade under 3" long.
 
When I first read this story in the paper I was curious to know on what grounds the police searched the car. The chap had passed the drink/drive test and should have been allowed to go about his business. As far as the story goes he was stopped for no other reason than he was spotted pulling out of a pub car park. Is this now illegal, am I to be stopped every time I pick SWMBO up from her latest drinking session?
 
Here is Mr Knowles:

4528645711_93c326b609.jpg


Before he was criminalised, fined and had the knife taken from him, we assume.
 
If you'd had your original expensive version confiscated, you'd probably make do with a cheap copy provided by the journalist as well. They may even have let him keep it, if he wanted it.... :)
 
I'm going to have to do A re-assessment of my in car survival kit! I have had a camping knife fork & spoon set, plus a small kitchen knife with a serrated blade since around 1986. This was primarily to avoid any more crappy motorway stops for grub by buying some bread & cheese or some fruit from a village stores and doing a DIY snack. I actually haven't used these for several years but have never taken them out of the car.

Then there's the Swiss Army knife copy in my golf bag and the pair of scissors in my travel wash bag. OMG I'm a travelling gangster!
 
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