Knife control next for the UK

[RangerM9 1]

Majority of knife crime confined to major cities

 

* Matthew Weaver and agencies

* guardian.co.uk,

* Thursday July 17, 2008

* Article history

 

Knife crime is "extremely rare" in rural areas, the police said today, after new figures showed that 65% of knife crime is confined to five big cities in England.

 

In the first detailed break down of the problem, Police recorded 20,985 offences involving knives last year in England.

 

The statistics included a force-by-force breakdown, which showed that more than 65% of these crimes were confined to five cities and their surroundings: Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and London.

 

In the capital alone there were 7,428 recorded instances of knife crimes.

The second highest figure was recorded in the West Midlands with 2,303 incidents. Third was Greater Manchester with 2,294.

 

By contrast recorded knife crime in predominantly rural areas was typically low - 100s or fewer. In Dorset there were just 47 instances of knife crime last year.

 

Staffordshire police, which recorded 219 offences, said knife crime was "extremely rare" in the county.

 

A spokesman said: "That's only four offences a week across an entire county covering 1,048 square miles with a population of more than one million people."

 

He said Staffordshire neighbourhoods do not suffer from the type of gang culture existing in some inner city areas, but police are not complacent.

 

Hampshire police said its 388 incidents of knife crime made up 18% of the total number of attempted murders, woundings and robberies in the county.

 

A spokesman said that this was one of the lowest percentages in the country.

 

Inspector Alistair Nichols said: "The figures demonstrate that we do not have a significant knife crime culture in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

 

"However, when violence involving knives does occur, it can have a huge and devastating impact on everyone's lives.

 

"That's why we're working hard to get knives and other offensive weapons off our streets, by increasing awareness and encouraging communities to provide us with information about those who do carry knives, so we can take appropriate steps before someone is seriously injured."

 

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I carry a knife daily....often two knives......just letting the UK police know so they can worry about what i might do with them.....seems they have nothing better to do.

 

for godsake people.....focus on the criminal that uses the knife or gun in a crime.....not the tool.....all this article shows is that the criminal will use the best available weapon....the one that gives the best advantage over the victim......so if you take away the guns and knives from the law abiding citizens, you simply create....you guessed it..... more victims.

[Eric Pate 478]

It was my understanding that residents of the UK are already restricted to a maximum legal blade length of 1 1/4 inches. I could be wrong though. Any Royalists care to chime in?

[THE_HUNTER 2]

Japan is looking at banning knives more too. Damn politicians. Same could happen here if we are not careful.

[uzitiger 193]

Many outrageous, idiotic and dickheaded leftist ideas originate in England then somehow are brought to Canada then the leftists here try to impose them on the American people. The 'subject' in England lost their brains and now they are paying for it with their rights taken from them while Muslims and criminals get coddled.

 

The dumb bastards now make their police put booties on their drug sniffing dogs because dogs are offensive to Muslims. I'll have a dog in my home before I have a Muslim, dogs are loyal to their owners unlike Muslims. The British banks also won't give away piggy banks for fear or offending Muslims while they have no regard to their own people and traditions.

 

Liberalism and 'political correctness' are a mental disease which we don't need.

Edited July 26, 2008 by uzitiger

[Gaddis 1,689]

:lol:

 

That's telling em, Uzitiger!

[gunfighteruk 6]

YOUR KNIFE AND YOU

Despite what you may have been led to believe, our knife laws are amongst the most sensible in the modern World.

 

In Great Britain we benefit from laws which promote the sensible use and collecting of fine cutlery, yet discourage those who seek to abuse what are, in effect, artistic, well engineered tools. In short, be aware of the following points, although please read the linked articles for more in-depth information ...

 

What You Can't Have ...

The following items are banned from sale within the UK (although if you already own one you may keep it, but not use it outside of your own property) ... Switchblades, automatics or 'flick-knives', gravity knives, balisongs or 'butterfly knives', push daggers, belt buckle knives, sword canes, disguised knives, or knuckle-duster knives.

 

Late on in 2004, an amendment to the law was introduced which restricts the sale of any knife which is not readily detectable by the normal methods of detection, ie: either x-ray or metal detection, unless it can be proven that the knife's sole purpose is for the preparation of food. So for instance, the Cold Steel CAT Tanto or Lansky Knife are now prohibited within the UK. These knives are correctly referred to as Airport Knives, but in English law are commonly referred to as Stealth Knives.

 

In 2006, so-called Disguised Knives were prohibited. You may not buy any knife designed to look like something else, for instance a knife which appears to be a pen, (and it doesn't matter whether the pen works or not, it's still prohibited here).

 

What You Can Carry ...

The Criminal Justice Act (1988) says that you may carry a knife with a blade length of 3.0" or less so long as it is capable of folding. That means no fixed blade knives. But use your loaf - a knife has no place at a football match, in a pub, nightclub or school and becomes an offensive weapon in these circumstances in just the same way as a screwdriver, or any other innanimate tool.

 

But I NEED a Bigger Knife ...

If you wish to carry a larger knife then you must have 'reasonable cause'. That means that you must be able to prove that you had a genuine reason for carrying the knife.

 

You may carry a larger cutting tool if it is associated with your work (for instance a chef may carry a 9.0" butchers knife roll to and from work), or if it is associated with your sport, (for instance a fisherman may carry a 6.0" fillet knife, or a hunter may carry a 4.0" fixed blade hunting knife).

 

Don't forget it's there though. If you stop off in Tesco's for a can of beans on your way home take the knife off of your belt and lock it in your glove box, or your local Bobby will be unimpressed at your excuses. When transporting a knife by car keep it locked away in the glove box or securely stored in the boot of the vehicle. Do not slip it into the door side-pocket, under your seat or in a centre console, this is a dangerous practice, and if stopped by the Police this gives the impression of keeping the knife close to hand

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Taken from one of the better UK sporting forums.

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I live in Hampshire so i guess im safe according to the first post !

Edited July 27, 2008 by gunfighteruk

[Eric Pate 478]

I knew somebody would chime in with the correct info! All thats really not as bad as I was led to believe. In my state we're limited to 2 3/4 OA blade length. Thanks for the heads up!