We have discussed this many times before and will doubtless do so again in the future. And quite rightly so. This kind of information is vital to new members and is more important than all the possible hose colour combinations.

To that end, I am posting an extract from the current British Law. Not my interpretation, or how I feel it should be. No trans-Atlantic spin, no ifs, no buts, just the Law.


Criminal Justice Act 1988

1988 CHAPTER 33


Part XI

Articles with blades or points and offensive weapons

Section 139



139 Offence of having article with blade or point in public place

(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, any person who has an article to which this section applies with him in a public place shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed except a folding pocketknife.
(3) This section applies to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches.
(4) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a public place.
(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above, it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had the article with him—
(a) for use at work;
(b) for religious reasons; or
(c) as part of any national costume.
(6) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(7) In this section “public place” includes any place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted access, whether on payment or otherwise.
(8) This section shall not have effect in relation to anything done before it comes into force.

I have added 3 highlights, to denote blade size, good reason and national costume. It should be noted that the Act does not specify, whose national costume, just that it should be a national costume.

For those interested, the Act is located here:

http://195.99.1.70/acts/acts1988/ukpga_19880033_en_1

Regards

Chas