39 replies to this topic

[David]

Todays stupid new rule is:

Scouts are no longer allowed to take pen - knives on camping trips! (the Times front page today)

Thats been a rule, possibly a somewhat unofficial rule, for at least 20 years.

Edited by David, 07 September 2009 - 10:03 PM.

[dogsbody]

yep, agree witrh David on that one, when i was a scout nearly 20 years ago it was a no no but we all did it anyway!!

[phildunford]

yep, agree witrh David on that one, when i was a scout nearly 20 years ago it was a no no but we all did it anyway!!

Yup! that's the way to do it - completely ignore the bu**ers.

My son did DOE award last year and I think they had a competition to see who had the biggest knife - and did they stab anyone? No, they used them to strike fire, whittle wood, cut ropes and all the other things you need a knife for on an outdoor expedition.

BTW an electrician friend of a friend spent several hours in police station because he had his electricians (stubby, specialist) knife in the cab of his van instead of his boot when he was stopped for a routine check - just crazy...

[dogsbody]

an electrician friend of a friend spent several hours in police station because he had his electricians (stubby, specialist) knife in the cab of his van instead of his boot when he was stopped for a routine check - just crazy...<br />

love to see them stop me, 2 stanley knives floating around in the car in plain view!!

[Mixologist]

Suprised they stop people

afterall you may stab them.

[David]

I didn't actually know this, but carrying a knife at all is considered a criminal offence- possibly though not if you have a legitimate use for it.


Does this mean you can't have a pen knife, Swiss Army Knife etc?

Article

[pyromaniac303]

This is taken from a guide for scouts:

"A person who has a good reason (reasonable excuse) or lawful authority for carrying the offensive weapon is not committing a crime. However the onus of proof is on the person carrying the weapon to show that they were carrying it with an innocent purpose. The reasonable excuse (or lawful authority) must be identified with the carrying of the weapon, and not with its use. Carrying an offensive weapon for "self defence" in case of attack is not a reasonable excuse. It is not a reasonable excuse to be carrying the weapon because you had been using the article for an innocent purpose earlier and had forgotten to put it away afterwards."

Full Article

It seems like when caught with a knife you must be able to prove your innocence at all times, however it goes on to say:

"Folding pocket knives with blades not exceeding 3 inches are exempt from this provision. This means that it is not an offence to carry a pen knife around with you. Age is not a material factor in any respect - anyone can own or carry a penknife no matter what age they are. The only occasion when the police would take action would be if the person is using the penknife illegally such as to cause criminal damage or to injure someone. "

However penknives with blades that lock in place once folded out are not exempt, whatever their size, so you can still be arrested for carrying them.

[Gentleman]

"However penknives with blades that lock in place once folded out are not exempt, whatever their size, so you can still be arrested for carrying them."

Im pretty sure that ALL pen knives that i have atleast owned or seen LOCK as they fold out (mainly as a protection method to stop the blade coming down and cutting your finger!)
How backwards is that law!

[wjames]

at last, a topic where my input is perhaps from a point of veiw previously unseen.

I work as a recovery driver for my local police force. By that i mean, i recover cars for a number of reasons.

These are:

Section 165 - no insurance, no license etc.
asbo - boy racers, loud exhausts etc
SOCO - scenes of crime officers - murders, drugs...guns...

And, Fatal road accidents.



Now, with relation to the new 50mph speed limit.

I have never ONCE recovered a car involved in a fatal RTA/RTC from a motorway. most of the time they bounce around, whack a barrier...and come to a halt.

Fatalities on dual carrigeway, where a central reservation is present, generally happen when a car strikes a nearby tree or lamp post/sign.

75% of fatal accidents i recover are from National speed limit roads. I.e Roads that are unlit, poor view of road ( i.e tight corners, blind corners, hidden dips...)
2 cars heading towards each other at 60MPH - thats impact speed of 120MPH....chances of survival in a euro NCAP 5 star car, wearing a seatbelt...From MY EXPERIENCE. 0%
1 car striking a tree at 60MPH, presuming head on collison, in a euro ncap 5 star car, wearing a seatbelt...about 10-15%


Now, by lowering the speed limit on these roads to 50MPH, there WILL be a reduction in fatalites in the uk. Without a doubt.


Having said all this.......did you know there is 30 million cars ON the road, in the uk. and around 3000 fatal accidents. Do the maths.

[Potassium chlorate]

Seat belts are a f**king insult too. Grown up people shouldn't be told to wear a seat belt in their own cars. It's just one of many ways Big Brother shows you who is in charge. It's your body, your life, and you have paid the eventual medical care by your tax, if you live in a European welfare state.