How does the whole offensive weapon thing work?

Isn't there something about adapted, intended etc/?

And specifically what is the law relating to knives, their sale and them being carried in a public place.

For the UK by the way,

KNIVES
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- Most knives are banned from being sold to persons under 16

- Swiss army knives are allowed, as long as the blade is less than 3 inches long

- Flick Knives, Butterfly Knives and Disguised knives may not be carried

- Knives with a lockable blade may not be carried

Knives for the purpose of helping you carry out your duty of work eg delivery driver with a box cutter is allowed. If you have a reasonable explaniation for carrying the knife and use it for the correct use then its ok.

Yup that falls under intent.

Basically the Criminal Justice Act 1988 makes it illegal for a person to carry an article with a blade or point unless they can prove any of the following:

• That they had lawful authority or reasonable excuse for carrying it
• That they were carrying the article for use at work
• That they were carrying it for religious reasons
• That they were carrying it as part of national costume

Folding pocket knives with blades not exceeding 3 inches are exempt from this provision. This means that it is not an offence to carry a pen knife around with you, and your age does not affect this 'right.'

Lock knives with blades of any length and folding pocket knives with blades exceeding 3 inches are covered by this provision together with any other article that has a blade or is sharply pointed, such as a stanley knife.

Carrying an article with a blade or a point for "self defence" in case of attack does not constitute a reasonable excuse, nor is it a reasonable excuse to be carrying it because you had been using it for a job earlier and had forgotten to put it away afterwards.

It comes down to discretion on the officer part aswell though if you stop someone whos jacket says JOE BLOGS CARPETS and he has a knife in the knife pocket of his trousers youre hardly gonig to drag him down the station but if hes wearing a tracksuit hoddie and baseball cap blocking his face then well ask questions

Police arrested someone for attacking my grandfather with a piece of 2x4 with gaffa tape around one end. they were arrested but the case later dropped

Tell us more about the circumstances behind this?

It was over a long running arguement over the family next door harrassing him and his son because of their claiming land. We were building a grarage with some othere relatives (with planning permission) and they got a little jealous and started doing things like reporting people when there was nothing to report them for. We are a very close family, regularly go on days out with them. Neighbours were very agressive and the police were called

Do you know why the case was dropped?

lack of evidence i believe. it was only our word agains theirs.

did anyone read The Sun on thursday. It had a picture of a very large knife/sword. what would an ispector or senior officer think if the officers ran away for their own safety? i know a PCSO can but what about a PC or SC

I would say that there's nothing cowardly about an officer running away from a nutter weilding a huge sword. In many cases they'd be crazy to try and tackle them. In my opinion that backs up what I was saying in another topic about having an ARV in every town.

I wouldn't have a problem with running away, bit i'd much rather taser them into submission

Damn right there Oldbillplod

All my weapons are defensive, not offensive.