This is stupid. Soon you wont be able to carry anything around...even plastic bags are dangerous, I should know, Ive killed many a people using one.

So you played Manhunt too?

I think you could probably think of a good reason for carrying around a book and a plastic bag though. Knives, less so.

Same could be said for a baseball bat/golf club/claw hammer/crowbar.

I think I'd rather take my chances against a multitool than any of the above used as weapons.

I've always liked the idea of killing someone by suffusing their entire body with polystyrene. This explains why this method was used in one of the old mafia games

Or using it open a bottle of wine.

They might have something to say about someone randomly wandering around with a golf club, but if he had a FULL SET IN HIS CAR, they might let him off. Especially if he was wearing plus fours and a beret.

Presumably they just thought you were off to bury her.

Presumably they just thought you were off to bury her.

Was it a lockknife? If not, why is it illegal for him to carry it?

I don't know of any multitools that have locking knives on them, but I'm not exactly a multitool afficionado (except in Deus Ex)

Since when have lockknives become illegal - I thought it was a blade over 4" in length that was illegal?

Offence: It is an offence for a person to manufacture, sell, hire or offer for sale or hire or expose or have in his possession for the purpose of sale or hire, or lend or give to any person:

A) any knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife, sometimes know as a ‘flick knife’ or ‘flick gun’; or

B) any knife which has a blade which is released from the handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force and which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever, or other device, sometimes known as a ‘gravity knife’.

I wonder what the most dangerous item you could legally acquire and carry about without getting hassled would be?

What bothers me is the escalation of the case. Assuming that the article is correct and nobody was being threatened, it comes across as a waste of resources to haul him in front of the courts. Yeah, he should be told off for being a dick with a knife, and he needs to learn somehow, but I doubt this is the best way of doing it.

Now, the deeper fear is what happens to this kid in years to come. Given the ever-increasing use of CRBs and such like, even if his discharged this will possibly mark him.

GazChap - that's selling/buying. Not the same legislation as 'carrying', as I understand it.

It is a common belief that a folding knife must be non-locking for this provision to apply, but the wording of the Criminal Justice Act does not mention locking and the matter becomes a question as to the definition of "folding pocket knife". In the case of R. v Desmond Garcia Deegan (1998) in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the ruling that 'folding' was intended to mean 'non-locking' was upheld.

Absolutely - but imagine being the copper who goes back to the station saying 'Saw a kid with a knife today. Told him off, but didn't charge him or anything.' What response do you think he would get?

Good points (arf) made by everyone, thanks.

What bothers me is the escalation of the case. Assuming that the article is correct and nobody was being threatened, it comes across as a waste of resources to haul him in front of the courts. Yeah, he should be told off for being a dick with a knife, and he needs to learn somehow, but I doubt this is the best way of doing it.

Now, the deeper fear is what happens to this kid in years to come. Given the ever-increasing use of CRBs and such like, even if his discharged this will possibly mark him.

There's no such thing as 'centrifugal force'.

Good point. Quoting from Wikipedia (but not citing, as it's unreliable):

If I'm reading that right, that last sentence there means that a folding knife has to be non-locking to be legal.

Rubbish. Define your fields in terms of a rotating Cartesian frame and centrifugal force is right there, as clear as the nose on your face.

When I was on jury duty we ended up putting a guy in the can for having a craft knife in his pocket.

It's a difficult situation and I don't see an easy solution.

Was he a terrorist or a nutter?

Yeah, but without wanting to sound like an arse, kids never used to fucking stab each other to death.

Isn't knife crime actually down?