Keeping a Swiss Army Knife in your Car?

scbk

I've usually got a "swiss army" style kinfe and a lock knife in my van, handy for cutting up food etc! (you cannae beat a cold quiche )

Also got a big tool kit in the back full of plenty small sharp and large blunt instruments :A

d123

scbk wrote: »

I've usually got a "swiss army" style kinfe and a lock knife in my van, handy for cutting up food etc! (you cannae beat a cold quiche )

Also got a big tool kit in the back full of plenty small sharp and large blunt instruments :A

Swiss Army knife is no problem, but if you don't have a valid specific reason for the locking blade it could be fairly expensive if you cross paths with the wrong bobby on the wrong day...

It could end up in Court like this one

Fined £450 for carrying lock knife
Published on 15/08/2007

AN apprentice electrician has paid a high price for carrying a lock knife around on his day off.

Douglas Rae, of Holly Close, Carleton Heights, Penrith, was fined £450 by Eden magistrates after he admitted having a pointed article in a public place.

Police found the lock knife, which was a present from a girlfriend, in the glove compartment of his car when they stopped him in Boroughgate, Appleby, on June 11.

Craig Smith, defending, said the 21-year-old used the lock knife to strip wires – it was a tool of his trade.

Rae, who had the lock knife confiscated, must also pay £58 costs.

Wig

d123 wrote: »

The good reason has to be immediate, you can't leave a locking or fixed blade in the car "just in case" you might need it. Nor is it an adequate defence to have one in the tool box in case it's needed.

The law that covers this is Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act.

I was talking about the OPs swiss army knife.

Interesting article you quoted about the electrician. If I were him I might have got better legal representation, and appealed if necessary. I reckon he was hard done by.

But to counter your article I know of at least one example where a small locking blade was found by police in the tool box in the boot, police tried to prosecute but for whatever reason (perhaps CPS refused the case) he was not prosecuted. I also know there was another example (I think he was from Cardiff and I think he was on this forum) he had been stopped and was being investigated by police over a small locking blade knife, I'm not sure what happened to him but I think the police dropped that case aswell.

When I have more time I will do a forum search for the thread. I'm fairly sure I participated in the thread. Mind you MSE has lost a lot of old threads so it could be gone.

epz_2

let me get this straight i can drive a car that mame and kill by simply by pressing the accelerator and aiming it at someone but im not allowed to have a lock knife in my toolkit, i hate the government.


whats the law on axes? ive a full size axe in my boot next to a tent, full socket set and a whole bunch of other suff that might be usefull.

movilogo

How would some one know that you're carrying a Swiss knife in your car? Even if someone does, you can't be prosecuted for that. Swiss knife is a very useful tool (screwdrivers, tin cutter, scissors etc.) and I always carry one with me when I'm on holidays.

shown73

Pretty soon, even winkle picker b----y shoes will be outlawed by the health and safety gestapo, who seem to be slowly strangling this country.

d123

movilogo wrote: »

How would some one know that you're carrying a Swiss knife in your car? Even if someone does, you can't be prosecuted for that. Swiss knife is a very useful tool (screwdrivers, tin cutter, scissors etc.) and I always carry one with me when I'm on holidays.

Under some of the marvellous new "anti-terrorism" laws that Nu-Lab have foisted on the country you can be stopped and searched without reason at any time the police see fit. If your Swiss knife blade is under 3" and does not lock open you are fine to carry it without reason.

If it doesn't conform, unfortunately you can be prosecuted if the officer is perhaps having a bad day, or perhaps you fail the "attitude test". In the current "all knives are evil murdering implements of mass destruction" the odds of the CPS not prosecuting, or the magistrate not finding you guilty are pretty slim. The most famous case (which actually set the precedent for the illegalility of locking folders) was DPP vs Harris, this case has been as far as the Court of Appeal, and leave to appeal to the H of L has since been denied, meaning every Magistrates Court and Crown Court have to abide by the ruling.

As has been mentioned, people do get away with carrying knives, people also get verbal warnings and the knife is confiscated, BUT it is possible to be arrested and cautioned, or even detained for carrying a knife that doesn't conform to Section 139 CJA.

southernscouser

I've got a weapon thats bigger than 3 inches and I always carry it around with me.

d123

southernscouser wrote: »

I've got a weapon thats bigger than 3 inches and I always carry it around with me.

As long as you keep the 4" weapon concealed no-one will complain

Zebedee69

I normally work with a tool......... His name is Steve ha ha!

Iv never ever been searched in my life..... I think the Police do tend to go for specific types of people to search like chavs and young black males etc etc.

Its very easy to avoid trouble....... Dont go looking for it!

As for the knife thing....... A swiss army thing is bound to be okay even more so if your a builder, electrician or a technician of some sort who needs the little tools on it.

If your worried about being searched then think about the way you dress and act. If you find yourself wearing baggy shellsuits and hang about on council estates I would worry!

However if you dress fairly smartly, carry yourself in a professional way and keep a low profile most Policemen wont even notice your presence.