For those who use a machete (for work), or collect bayonets - do we need to be worried?

Filled in

I did suggest outlawing knives over 17ft 8inches long as more than that is just showing off.

What a total farce
 
Fundamentally if you pick up any object and start using it as a weapon and threaten or cause actual harm to somebody you will be charged with GBH and do some serious time.

Doesn’t matter what the object is be it a machete, or a statue or a rolling pin a paving slab or frying pan.

Many of us have and use tools such as an axe, chisels, adse, billhook, mattock, cane knives, cooking knives for all sorts of perfectly legitimate reasons. Indeed go into just about any house in UK will be several sharp long bladed cooking knives in the kitchen.

Banning the implements is just a knee jerk way of pretending to deal with the real question as to why do young men in our cities and towns feel compelled to carry and use knives on each other.

That is going to involve asking serious questions and tackling really difficult long term social and cultural problrms.

Instead pass yet more stupid legislation. Get a news headline, use it as a soundbite in prime minister’s questions and hope to get re elected.
 
More BS legislation that duplicates existing law. Any bladed article without good reason is already banned so why ban it again? Sound bite politics for the mass media and with an eye on the next general election

Exactly this - they’re already illegal without good reason.

It would be far quicker to just republish the existing law with a new clause that says “we really mean it and we will be very cross if you get caught!” 🙄
 
Again, it's the perpetrator or potential perpetrators who use or intend to use or rather misuse items that need attention. A lot of tools or household items would need consultations done if they think about it
 
I have not read the proposals, but I believe we should covered by " reasonable excuse" ( Prevention of Crime Act 1953, sec 1 ) in that we would be in possession of a machette, or similar articles in pursuance of our trade or legitimate activities. I carry one whilst out shooting in a scabbard for brashing etc, it hangs next to my gralloching knife on my trouser belt loop, but I would add that there could and should be derogations of sorts for folk like us

Patrick
I used to put one in my truck when I would go pigeon shooting to clear the brash, I went to join a ship in my local port and since it was only a short 5 day job I took my pick up with the intention of leaving it at the port as we would be sailing back there in a few days, On the way into the port the security were carrying out routine searches and they find this bush cutter/Machette which I had forgot to take out the car from the pigeon shooting session the day before, No problem the security guy says, Just pick it up at the gate when you return, I thought that was the end of it, We sailed to Germany and I got a call saying the police want to interview me regarding having a machete, I told them it wasn't a machete it was a bush cutter and the reason for having it in the car, anyway we sailed back into port and I was told the police wanted to come onboard to interview me where I said no, I will meet them at my house.
Anyway the marine police arrive at my house and I ask if I need a solicitor before I make a comment and informed there's no need, The officer agreed I had good reason for carrying it but not for taking into port which I agree, I also had the txt on my phone from the day before when I informed the police I was going shooting so this backed me up.
I also had to agree to them keeping it as they said it would go down on there records as another dangerous weapon off the streets and that I could object but for the sake of £20 which is what it cost I just agreed
 
Ah, its ok - they mean 'heald in private" by chavs and gangstas. I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem our old pointy object collections? I'm not the chav way inclined in the slightest, despite my love of blades. 👍
 
From the Home Office consultation: "provide the police with additional powers to enable them to seize, retain and destroy bladed articles of any length held in private." That could be interpreted to include screwdrivers, chisels, saws and many other tools. As mentioned by others, more male bovine excrement to make it look as if something worthwhile is happening.
 
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