exmarksman9870
Well-Known Member
Hello....Can anybody inform me of the law on carrying knifes i.e size of blade or locking blades etc for use when stalking...cheers in advance
knifes...
- Thread starter exmarksman9870
- Start date
Not strictly true - flick knives, switchblades and automatics are illegal regardless.
By law you can carry in public a non-locking, folding, pocket knife with a cutting edge of less than 3 inches without the need for good reason. Anything else (and yes, I know there are exemptions) you will need a good reason to carry it in public.
So going to/from stalking and stalking itself would be deemed good reason to have in your possession a fixed blade or locking knife such as a Mora or Exa Swingblade. Having one in the glove box of your car on the basis you might go stalking sometime this weekend is NOT good reason.
If you want to see the full FAQ's I suggest a look here: The Law FAQ
willie_gunn
Thanks for that Spix, jolly handy: http://basc.org.uk/download.cfm/docid/F7CE90DC-2C86-44C5-97ED46C927D34652
willie_gunn
tackb
Well-Known Member
what he says ^^^^^^
Si
Well-Known Member
I can't speak for everyone here, there may be a few taxi drivers.... but the inside of my car is not a public place. If it's ok to leave a rifle unattended in the boot of your car (out of sight and as secure as practically possible) then why not a knife?
digger9523
Well-Known Member
I know what you mean, but by the same token the inside of your jacket pocket isn't a public place. However they (car and jacket) accompany you through many public places and so therefore put the knife close to hand should you decide to take it out to use or commit a crime. (That's how plod see it)
I think you'd find that transporting a firearm without actually being on you way to or from shooting is an offence as well? Being that all someone has to do to get it is smash a window and steal the car. (Again, that's how plod see it)
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Si
Well-Known Member
Yeh, I'm not saying the BASC guidance is wrong but it seems contradictory to allow rifles to be stored in vehicles but not knives.
I believe it is legal to leave a gun in a vehicle, for example at motorway services or even an overnight stay in a B&B. Obviously you'd remove the bolt and magazine to render it useless but it still makes you wonder.
I believe it is legal to leave a gun in a vehicle, for example at motorway services or even an overnight stay in a B&B. Obviously you'd remove the bolt and magazine to render it useless but it still makes you wonder.
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
there is nothing to say leaving a knife locked securely in your car when going stalking and stopping en route is a problem along with your rifle. The problem arises when you routinely carry a knife for no good reason. You wouldn't leave you rifle locked in your car overnight outside your house or take your rifle out when you popped to the shops? If I'm going somewhere where I need a knife then I take it if I'm just out and about I don't carry it or leave it in my car on the off chance. You wouldn't keep your rifle in your car as a matter of course just incase you saw a deer whilst driving past your permission or came across an RTC?
errr...I think you'll find it is actually, particularly when on a highway or in an area to which the public has access.
The Criminal Justice Act 1988, defines a public place as "any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise."
Having a knife in your car for no good reason, even if concealed from sight, will be looked on very seriously. To get an idea, have a read of this page: Offensive Weapons, knives, bladed and pointed articles: Legal Guidance: The Crown Prosecution Service
Plenty of examples of people being arrested and charged for having offensive weapons in a public place when said weapons were on the front seat/dashboard/glovebox of their car.
willie_gunn
Bertie Dastard
Well-Known Member
How about carrying a knife in your van. Does this also count as a public place?
If it does, then I am guilty of posession of an arsenal of offensive implements!!
If it does, then I am guilty of posession of an arsenal of offensive implements!!
Si
Well-Known Member
I know Willie, I've read the BASC link and I wasn't implying that you were wrong in saying that you can't keep a knife in the glovebox without good reason or that a vehicle is in fact classed as a public place... although I don't agree that it should be.
Including a builder I know who was arrested for possession of an 'offensive weapon' [he routinely carried a work knife] ; declining a caution, he was then charged and prosecuted, and after months of stress and anxiety the judge threw it out with a 'please be realistic' comment to the CPS.
It behoves us all to pay particular attention to this. You may routinely carry a knife on the offchance that you may go shooting yet if it goes wrong with an unsympathetic police officer you could be looking at a custody situation rather than just having a friendly thank you and FO conversation with a sympathetic one. S
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
but your FAC doesn't allow you to carry a firearm for the sake of it or just in case? You couldn't just take a rifle to work or the pub or out shopping or the police would quite rightly ask questions! You can carry a knife legally anywhere as long as you have good reason under current law. Just because you have carried something for years or you think you may need it on the off chance then quite rightly that isn't a good enough reason. Otherwise anyone could carry any knife and just say tey thought it would come in handy. You only have to read some posts on various topics from some FAC holders on here to think they're not the most level headed people in some situations. Having an FAC doesn't automatically mean you can be trusted to carry a knife anywhere all the time.
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