knive crime and diving

[Kev T]

Just a thought, but was reading an article in my local rag about a builder stopped by traffic police, who subsequently searched his van and found a knife in the back, presumably with his tools. The knife was described as being capable of inflicting "horrific wounds " which to be fair describes most diving knives, i am concerned exactly where we divers stand if stopped in a similar situation, could we be prosecuted for posession of an offensive weaponi wonder ?

[Polly]

I think that technically we could although usually the fact that I'm on my way to a dive site, or already kitted up, when I have it on me would go a long way to backing up my reason for having it in the first place.

If you were to get into an argument in a carpark (for example) and head to your car to get your knife to 'help prove your point' then I supsect that's a different matter altogether.

For some reason, I had my knife on my dashboard for a couple of weeks last month (think I'd forgotten it in my dive bag and run back for it at the last minute)...but as I parked it in a rather dodgy area I did suddenly think 'Hmm. That might take some explaining if they decide to check my tax disc' and hid it away out of sight.

I think we had a discussion about this on the old forum, a few years ago, but I can't remember what the general opinions were.

[bottlefish]

Hmmm, I wonder what they made of his hammer, saw, chisel set and the rest. I think most tools, in the hands of a homicidal maniac, have the potential to be pretty lethal. But, perhaps the greying old cynic that's slowly emerging into the world from within, but I can't help feeling that these types of reports leave a lot of the information out. If it was a foot long bowie knife, then perhaps it wouldn't be quite so surprising, and why did the police stop him and conduct such a search in the first place?

But if you're that worried, just ditch the knife and get a set of trauma shears instead... end of the day, a knife is pretty damn useless at cutting ropes and the like underwater, shears are a much better option

[gerald1961]

I used to do archerey but stopped last year. This topic was raised several times as a knife is part of your kit. The police advised me that as long as the knife was being carried stowed away and I was travelling to an archerey field or returning and going straight home they would sort of ignore it. The critereia seems to be what you are carrying the knife for and your intended use.

[Sakara Drinker]

You could probably do someone more harm by swinging a full weight belt at them anyway.

[Polly]

I've always been a fan of tank-battering.

[Sakara Drinker]

(29-11-2008 03:19 PM)Polly Wrote:  I've always been a fan of tank-battering.

YES......You have mentioned it a time or two.

[Bobco]

O what are things coming to, them’s were the days when you could pack 4 shotguns and a pair of 30-06 target rifles and buzz off to Bisley for a spot of shooting and no one would bat a eye. No joke, did this in the late 70’s and thought nothing of it.
Now I have even taken my Swiss army knife off of my key ring, just in case the Fuz take it the wrong way

[Argonaut]

I shot at Bisley many times .... but it is what happened a few miles West at Hungerford ... changed gun laws for ever.

You can carry knives if they are part of tools for a job ... electrician, plumber, carpenter etc. ..... and if they are in a tool bag/box in a car then no problem.
Having a 'hard man diver' Rambo knife alongside the drivers seat may not be justifiable ..... same way a fisherman can justify having a 'lethal' fish gutting knife, but only with his fishing kit.
On the dashboard when not fishing would be liable to prosecution.

[Silty Bottom]

I recall this being in an article somewhere, Diver/Dive/Sport Diver possibly. If memory serves me the general consensus was as has been previously mentioned: if it's stowed with your kit and you're on your way to/from a dive site then it's ok. Although I do also recall that it was a grey area if you were sat in the cafe at the likes of Cappers with your knife still strapped to your leg as you could then technically be charged with carrying an offensive weapon in a public area as you have no valid reason for carrying it.