MoonlightShadow
New Member
The Swiss Army Knife may be illegal in its own right. The Swiss are in a monopoly situation with there friggin Army Knives, and it may therefore be held to be unlawful under the terms of The Competition Act. 
Prosecuted for having a Swiss Army Knife
- Thread starter doug748
- Start date
Babylon
Well-Known Member
Police venality - a victim's perspective
Many years ago in central London I left an impromptu weekday party more sober than drunk but very tired, and hailed a black cab to get me home to my bed.
The cabbie was a fat slug of a man, who picked up on the traces of a foreign accent (I spent my early childhood overseas) and started driving me north then east along the Euston Rd instead of down south of the river. When I politely reminded him of the address I'd given, he slammed the glass screen shut, got on the radio and did a prompt u-turn.
Five minutes later the cab was outside Saville Row police station. Two young cops (one a white skinhead, the other an Asian) came out the building and told me to get out of the cab. I explained that I had done nothing wrong, that the cabbie had driven me around the houses, and that I simply wanted to go home. "If you get out, you can get another cab" one of them told me. So I got out - and straight into having both my arms forced up behind my back and with my head pushed hard down I was rushed into the police station.
Inside I was pushed down in front of the station sergeant, who informed me that I was being cautioned for being drunk and disorderly. I replied that I was neither of these things, and that I had only got out of the cab when the Asian officer had told me I could get another cab. "Wot Asian officer!?" snarled the sergeant with a supercillious smirk on his face. My heart sank. I knew I had by ugly chance entered a parallel universe in which truth, logic, reason, humanity, justice, etc counted for nothing.
I asked for the number of a solicitor, and got through to an irritated man called Reynolds who suggested that I sleep it off then hung up.
Needless to say the cell smelled of piss and vomit. Some idiot in an adjacent cell started up a howling every twenty minutes - at which point some other person, presumably in another cell, shouted "SHUT UP NIGEL!!" After an hour of this, a cop came by and I was able to ask for some water. An hour later the cop returned with a paper cup containing one centimeter of water in the bottom.
I asked the cop how long I was going to be kept in the cell. He replied "Till six in the morning, or earlier if your cell is needed." I was about to ask him why, if my cell wasn't currently needed, was I in it? - but of course that was the sort of smart-erse thing that would only make matters worse.
So I shut up. Nigel howled. The clock ticked on interminably. I got used to the stench. At six in the morning I was let out. I went home and had a very long shower, then went to bed.
I gather now that it is no longer called the 'Police Force' - its called the 'Police Service' but no amount of rebranding will ever change the fact that a good proportion of cops (in all countries and cultures) will always either be rotten to their very core or so stupid as to be unable to discern between actual criminals and the ordinary public they are paid to 'serve'.
Many years ago in central London I left an impromptu weekday party more sober than drunk but very tired, and hailed a black cab to get me home to my bed.
The cabbie was a fat slug of a man, who picked up on the traces of a foreign accent (I spent my early childhood overseas) and started driving me north then east along the Euston Rd instead of down south of the river. When I politely reminded him of the address I'd given, he slammed the glass screen shut, got on the radio and did a prompt u-turn.
Five minutes later the cab was outside Saville Row police station. Two young cops (one a white skinhead, the other an Asian) came out the building and told me to get out of the cab. I explained that I had done nothing wrong, that the cabbie had driven me around the houses, and that I simply wanted to go home. "If you get out, you can get another cab" one of them told me. So I got out - and straight into having both my arms forced up behind my back and with my head pushed hard down I was rushed into the police station.
Inside I was pushed down in front of the station sergeant, who informed me that I was being cautioned for being drunk and disorderly. I replied that I was neither of these things, and that I had only got out of the cab when the Asian officer had told me I could get another cab. "Wot Asian officer!?" snarled the sergeant with a supercillious smirk on his face. My heart sank. I knew I had by ugly chance entered a parallel universe in which truth, logic, reason, humanity, justice, etc counted for nothing.
I asked for the number of a solicitor, and got through to an irritated man called Reynolds who suggested that I sleep it off then hung up.
Needless to say the cell smelled of piss and vomit. Some idiot in an adjacent cell started up a howling every twenty minutes - at which point some other person, presumably in another cell, shouted "SHUT UP NIGEL!!" After an hour of this, a cop came by and I was able to ask for some water. An hour later the cop returned with a paper cup containing one centimeter of water in the bottom.
I asked the cop how long I was going to be kept in the cell. He replied "Till six in the morning, or earlier if your cell is needed." I was about to ask him why, if my cell wasn't currently needed, was I in it? - but of course that was the sort of smart-erse thing that would only make matters worse.
So I shut up. Nigel howled. The clock ticked on interminably. I got used to the stench. At six in the morning I was let out. I went home and had a very long shower, then went to bed.
I gather now that it is no longer called the 'Police Force' - its called the 'Police Service' but no amount of rebranding will ever change the fact that a good proportion of cops (in all countries and cultures) will always either be rotten to their very core or so stupid as to be unable to discern between actual criminals and the ordinary public they are paid to 'serve'.
colvic987
Well-Known Member
The law in this country seems to try and protect the public from the scum creating very critical explanations of the law e.g length of blade etc, which means that your favourite pruning knife now makes you a criminal if you happen to get caught with it.
The police nowadays are so overstretched that they see no difference in the general public and the criminal, and you are an easy target to get locked up, then a criminal who kicks and shouts and gets let off every saturday night, whilst you the law abiding citizen who just happens to have forgotten to leave the pruning knife at home, or always leaves it in the car to prune your elderly mums garden. if caught cops the lot, and risks being a soft target by the police as an easy conviction.
We all see it as motorists as being soft targets for parking, speeding fines, and petrol taxes..
They seems to have foggy eyes when it comes to an arrest...
a disgrace to call themselves protectors of the law...
The police nowadays are so overstretched that they see no difference in the general public and the criminal, and you are an easy target to get locked up, then a criminal who kicks and shouts and gets let off every saturday night, whilst you the law abiding citizen who just happens to have forgotten to leave the pruning knife at home, or always leaves it in the car to prune your elderly mums garden. if caught cops the lot, and risks being a soft target by the police as an easy conviction.
We all see it as motorists as being soft targets for parking, speeding fines, and petrol taxes..
They seems to have foggy eyes when it comes to an arrest...
a disgrace to call themselves protectors of the law...
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cliffordpope
Well-Known Member
For equality reasons the police are only allowed to stop, search and prosecute a proportionate number of members of minorities suspected of being criminals or terrorists. So they therefore have to arrest large numbers of innocent members of the majority community in order to fiddle the numbers.
Bobobolinsky
Well-Known Member
I always carry a folding slash knife (stanley blade) Wonderful tool. If holding onto something, I can flick it open one handed. It's got a 25mm blade, it's totally legal and I am sure that given the right situation, it is capable of killing. One night, went for a meal, met some friends and invited to a nightclub. As I walked in they were using a metal wand. I realised, that I had knife in my pocket. They checked me saw the knife and let me in.......
Of course, I was in South Africa, they were only looking for guns. I also normally have a panga in the bakkie, what would they make of it here. UK is screwed!
Of course, I was in South Africa, they were only looking for guns. I also normally have a panga in the bakkie, what would they make of it here. UK is screwed!
mlines
Well-Known Member
Good job they didn't stop me the other night, 12 Bayonets in the boot...
Mr Plod: "What are these for...?"
Me: "Killing people..?"
(They were part of military ceremonial kit on the way to a ceremony)
Mr Plod: "What are these for...?"
Me: "Killing people..?"
(They were part of military ceremonial kit on the way to a ceremony)
graham
Well-Known Member
If the blade locks in the open position its still illegal.
Common sence seems to be less and less common these days.
MoonlightShadow
New Member
Hmmmm. So does that make the average knife and fork illegal? How do you get a dinner service home from the shops?
Bobobolinsky
Well-Known Member
All folding knives lock in the open position, it stops you shutting it on your fingers and only being able to count to nine without taking your shoes off
fireball
Well-Known Member
I think the law is quite sensible on this - it provides a mechanism for the police service to remove/detain individuals who are carrying an offensive weapon. What isn't sensible is the way some police assume that because you are in possession of what could be deemed an offensive weapon you are therefore guilty of carrying an offensive weapon.
The law here is a very blunt instrument and needs to be tempered by an "intelligent policeforce" - someone whith a penknife in their glove box isn't automatically carrying an offensive weapon, but if they had it concealed about their person in a night club then they are, but what about in a shopping center? Concealed could be just in your pocket ... and why would you need a penknife in a shopping center?
So - now we just need more recruits to the intelligent policeforce!
The law here is a very blunt instrument and needs to be tempered by an "intelligent policeforce" - someone whith a penknife in their glove box isn't automatically carrying an offensive weapon, but if they had it concealed about their person in a night club then they are, but what about in a shopping center? Concealed could be just in your pocket ... and why would you need a penknife in a shopping center?
So - now we just need more recruits to the intelligent policeforce!
VO5
Well-Known Member
sighmoon
Well-Known Member
There are many things beside knives which could be used as offensive weapons - baseball bats, glass bottles, rocks, etc.
Way back in October 2001, I was surprised that I wasn't allowed my nail clippers on the plane because they were an offensive weapon. I couldn't imagine how I could possibly hurt anyone with the clippers, but duly gave them up. However, when I returned from holiday, I had large talons on the end of my fingers, which were indeed offensive weapons.
Way back in October 2001, I was surprised that I wasn't allowed my nail clippers on the plane because they were an offensive weapon. I couldn't imagine how I could possibly hurt anyone with the clippers, but duly gave them up. However, when I returned from holiday, I had large talons on the end of my fingers, which were indeed offensive weapons.
doug748
Well-Known Member
Full story here:
http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews...-decision/article-2031875-detail/article.html
It's an all round winner:
Politicians can tell us that they are keeping the streets safe for us to tread,
The brave plod justify their overtime,
The Clerk of Court picks up a cheery cheque,
The Chief Constable meets his targets
The Magistrates hug themselves and dream of an MBE.
all except the poor sod on the end of it, and the rest of us.
http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews...-decision/article-2031875-detail/article.html
It's an all round winner:
Politicians can tell us that they are keeping the streets safe for us to tread,
The brave plod justify their overtime,
The Clerk of Court picks up a cheery cheque,
The Chief Constable meets his targets
The Magistrates hug themselves and dream of an MBE.
all except the poor sod on the end of it, and the rest of us.
andymcp
Well-Known Member
So the lesson is don't plead guilty.
And don't expect your son to learn the same self-sufficiency you might have done if he is lucky enough to be a member of the scouts.
Pathetic.
And don't expect your son to learn the same self-sufficiency you might have done if he is lucky enough to be a member of the scouts.
Pathetic.
fireball
Well-Known Member
peterb
Well-Known Member
We won't overcome such things until the individuals concerned (police, prosecutors, magistrates, etc.) are named, the names published, and hence they are exposed to the ridicule of their friends and neighbours. It should come under the Freedom of Information Act, not the Data Protection Act.
Jaytac
N/A
No.1 rule - don't get caught.
johnabbott893
Well-Known Member
If he had pleaded not guilty he would not have been convicted. His penknife is not an offensive weapon per se. He had to plead guilty for it to have been considered an offensive weapon. You are perfectly entitled to carry such a penknife with a folding blade in a public place and you don't need a reason to do so. The police have to prove you intended to use the knife as an offensive weapon to convict you. The easiest way for them to do this is to get you to plead guilty. Then, they don't have to prove anything.
Do not admit it is an offensive weapon - It is Not.
Do not admit it is an offensive weapon - It is Not.
Romeo
Well-Known Member
I don't know if we are getting the full story. Might well be that he has a bit of a form. By the look of him he could easily be a gang leader of some sort. You wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley with his corksdrew or can opener ready for use.
...but even if he is not, he shouldn't complain about it when he told the court that he was guilty.
...but even if he is not, he shouldn't complain about it when he told the court that he was guilty.
fireball
Well-Known Member
Unless he either had a particularly bad Solicitor or was told by the Fuzz that there was no point in pleading not-guilty as they caught him red handed and therefore he didn't bother with a solicitor ... eitherway, it is apparent that the police/cps CANNOT BE TRUSTED to uphold the law in any meaningfull manner. The courts may have had little option as they have to judge the case as presented.