osymandus
Life President
Agreed. Intent has absolutely nothing to do with it in the context of the law. As I've said before. I use knives at work all the time, predominantly a four inch lock knife. I keep it in a side pocket whilst at work but if I forgot to lock it away at the end of the day and was pulled over on the way home and that knife was found on my possession I'd get knicked. I have no more intent on using that knife as a weapon as a Sikh carrying his religious blade. What's the difference?
Becuase when the law was amended it took into account the practicalities of the sihk code , who carried them and as this report from 1994 state if it is on display and if it can be drawn easier
The two big issues were whether the kirpan could be seen and whether it could be drawn. The conditions we have imposed are very strict and they mean that actually using the knife would be extremely difficult. Moreover, the Sikh community is adamant that the kirpan is a sacred symbol, and not for practical use.'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/sikh-boy-allowed-to-wear-dagger-in-school-1379639.html
Thsi from the goverment website
it is generally an offence to carry a knife in public without good reason or lawful authority (for example, a good reason is a chef on the way to work carrying their own knives) my bold.
Also regarding other objects under teh offence weapons act
. This is also the case with things like screwdrivers - once used in a threatening manner, they are treated as offensive weapons. It is an offence to carry an offensive weapon in a public place, if you don't have a reasonable excuse.
Also regarding your lock knife were it an inch shorter it wouldnt matter if you had it locked away or not
- knives where the blade folds into the handle, like a Swiss Army Knife, aren't illegal as long as the blade is shorter than three inches (7.62 cms)