This is a great example of why you should decline to answer until you have a lawyer regardless of how innocent you believe yourself to be - because you may inadvertently say something which incriminates you needlessly.
I'm always very careful when at at re-enactment event to minimise the use of any of my medieval reproduction weapons, outside of controlled displays. I'm always on private land, but often the paying public are present, and I'm in medieval clothing, but even so I am very careful with weapons, and wouldn't for example, take one to the pub afterwards, even if in historical clothing!
@@BlackBeltBarrister somtimes UA-cam befuddles me, and yes It might be a good collaboration to look at how the law might consider reenactment weapons and how they ought, or ought not, be used.
Thank you for this video. As a knife collector and maker, I spend a lot of time trying to keep up with the mercurial nature of UK "weapons" laws. I certainly think that most people dont realise that if they tell a police officer that they are carrying ANYTHING for the purposes of self defence, they are now facing a criminal charge. Even if that item is a pencil or a can of baked beans. I appreciate you taking the time to cover this in more detail mate.
@@squadmoralerestored Excellent question, and one I've never really thought about. I spend most of my time at a keyboard, and I wanted to do something constructive and physical as a hobby. I was only really tinkering and then found some UA-cam knife making channels, got into hobbyist metalwork and eventually made a knife. During this process I learned a lot about the design and history of knives, and bought a few. I guess it also helps that Im into camping and bush craft. As someone who primarily works digitally, it was just very satisfying doing something real with my hands, and I learned a lot of useful skills (I can actually fix and make stuff now.) I probably spent too much money on knives, but they are a store of value, and I got some iconic ones. Some I use, most I store, although Ive stopped buying more now. I would note that I am absolutely NOT an advocate of knives as self-defence tools in the UK. Personally I see them as lethal force weapons, so using them for self defence in a country like the UK is both ludicrous and completely illegal. Personally, I usually dont even carry a UK Legal EDC most of the time. That being said, if I was camping and I lost my can opener, I could use a Kabar to open the can, and then turn the can into a hobo stove. I find it immensely satisfying being able to do stuff like that in this digital world. (I hope this all makes sense)
I ALWAYS used to keep a 6 "D cell" Maglite in the door pocket of my van. It was really useful to light up dirty countryside road signs at night, or to see when doing pre/post shift vehicle checks in winter, and was even occasionally a pretty good makeshift hammer. If I was getting out of the van in a rough area after dark I'd also drop it into it's belt holder ring and take it with me because since motion sensor lights became the norm, house numbers are often in the shadows until you actually walk up the door. Because the old 6 cell Maglite's were pretty hefty lumps, the natural way to use them was to have your hand near the head, and support the rest of it's mass on your shoulder, which also meant that if someone approached with the intent to cause you harm, You already happened to have this situationally appropriate (and totally innocuous) item in your hand, But coincidentally, it also resembled a weighted baseball bat that was already in an almost perfect position to be swung, and added about an extra foot to your reach.
You'd probably get done for attempted murder I often carry my toolbag in which I have various tools and equipment with aerated and bladed edges in which are stored at the top of the bag to prevent cutting through the bottom of the bag in which if I'm attacked may just be the first item I grab ...
And while you are carrying it in this way, keep a finger on the on/off button. That way you can disorientate the other person with a blinding light while you consider what to do.
Reman1975 No disrespect Reman, but with smaller torches nowadays with much superior luminosity no cop is going to give you the benefit of the doubt on you clobbering anyone with a six cell maglite. There again your job isn't to confront people in the dark and a better light will let you see them sooner so you can report to your control room or police sooner. I had a loon shine his magic light toy at me from over 100 m away and it actually blinded me to the extent I had to kneel down to blink the effects away. The unfortunate thing is it was someone in a TA camp who did it.
Recently got recommended your channel and it's always very interesting. I like that you don't give your opinions on what you believe the law should be, just the facts. There seems to be a lot of dunning-kruger effect when it comes to British law, I've noticed it a lot in conversations about knife law recently. People thinking for some reason that they can carry any size knife as long as it folds etc, also people who think the only reason one would carry a "legal" knife is to hurt someone. Very strange! Anyway, hopefully the algorithm boosts you mate.
@@sleepingwarrior4618 my issue with this is the same with many laws opinion not facts can dictate what happens with ANY knife, a leather man toolkit got me in bother, I'm an electrician and have had one on my belt for decades till I got stopped by a pissed off policeman, clear right from the start his mood was terrible, luckily another officer came over and turned it down. Never worn it since but its wrong it's hardly a weapon besides Its a tool for me
@@robba1234 I'm also an electrician but not one that does house wiring. I would have to be psychic not to be in danger from the law. Otherwise I have no way of knowing if a court would decide what I'm using my knife for is legitimate or not. However, I've always just taken a chance and never had a problem.
@@Rayxl1 I didn't "till I did" and reasonable was not in this guys vocabulary. I mean a leather man knife is hardly a weapon, but despite carving knives etc being most likely they blanket ban.. Easy answer
English law is lame when it comes to self defence...NEVER admit to carrying an everyday item for self defence, without an admission, prosecution can never prove the requisite intention for an everyday item that has not been modified for use in an altercation...use whatever is necessary to defend yourself / repel an attacker, cops cannot protect you when you're being attacked 99% of the time, only you can protect yourself 99% of the time. Edit: For what it's worth...You're better off being judged by 12 than be carried by 6...stay streetwise and stay safe everyone👊 You're welcome.
@@cromwellsghost3434 It's because.law abiding citizens will talk themselves into trouble and the police know they can't touch the hardened criminal because they'll never admit anything. Police these days are lazy or incompetent, or more usually both, and need to meet targets so who do you think they're going to prosecute? Who do you think they'll choose to come after? Never, ever, under any circumstances allow police into your house without a earrent or speak to them without a lawyer even if they're just asking you to "help" them. It's terrible that this country has come to the point when we have more to fear from the police than we do from criminals and it's only going to get worse as we slide into totalitarianism.
That's right. The law takes away all rights to protect yourself and then cuts police funding and refuses to hand down decent punishments... Therefore, you are more likely to be attacked than to be protected from an attack and the perpetrator is more likely to get away with out any reasonable punishment if they are even caught in the first place... If someone attacks you and you injure them defending yourself, the first thing the police will do is investigate to see if you were justified in defending yourself... Protect the rights of the criminals, at all costs...
@@cliveadams7629 39 people died due to a terror attack in the last 10 years, and 139 people died in Police custody for the same period. Thinks its important to remember that as per your figures your approx 3.5 times more likely to die at the hands of the police than at the hands of terrorists..And bear in mind the police are 100% acting for your safety whilst terrorists are acting 100% to KILL you... So either the police are very good at being terrorists or should we trust terrorists more than the police when it comes to public safety...
@@esecallum Police are foockin useless when it comes to criminals, they're scared of them and the crooks are too much like hard work. Which is why they go for easy pickings, the kind of people who trust & rely on the police & so are easy to manipulate into confessing or saying things that can be made to look bad in court. And as you say, if that doesn't work then have a little accident whilst in custody. Never trust the police, they're not there to protect you.
A continuation on this I think would be quite interesting for viewers, would you be able to explain the uses and legal ramifications of Farb Gel, I think it is used as a criminal identifier and in some cases as advertised a non harmful self defense spray. I have always been intrigued what the legal ramifications of using Farb Gel actually are, not that I would use it myself. Keep up the magnificent work and all the very best to you...
Same as absolutely anything else. If you're carrying it for the purpose of self defence, it's illegal. You could carry a dish mop for self defence and it would be illegal. Intent is much more important here than the actual object.
Best advice I had was to carry a torch at night. You have a perfectly valid reason for it, it can be in your hand quite justifiably but should you be attacked it has a number of other uses.
When I was with Victim Support, back in 1993 or thereabouts, one of the questions I asked was about self defence. This also tied in with the fact that I had been mugged around that time too, which led me to the Ninjutsu dojo, but I was keen to understand how I could defend myself and advise others to defend themselves if necessary without attracting the unwanted attention of HM Plod. I was green and cabbage-looking back in the day, but I still knew my onions.
This reminds me of something back in the late 1980's. I used to work for a company that made hand held computers, which were at the time, about the size of an house brick. A particular famous catalogue company at the time came to us as they were interested in supplying their reps with the computers for use when money collecting (In those days, if you bought from a catalogue, a rep would come round every week to your house to collect part payment). They asked if we could do things like changing the keyboard layout etc, but the one thing they did ask for as a necessity, was if we could ruggedise the unit, so that if any of the customers were violent to the rep, that they could use the computer as a weapon.
@@tlangdon12 They were designed for use outdoors in harsh environments, so already ruggedised, waterproof, fully working after drop test onto concrete from 2m etc. What they wanted was the wrist strap and it's mounting reinforcing so it didn't break off when they whacked someone over the head with it as well as some modifications to the shape of the case. We declined the contract as it wasn't financially viable to change the injection moulding tool for the low number of units they wanted.
I am a Security Officer and I often take my 6 cell Maglte on patrol with me. It is primarily a torch but if needed, it could be used as a defensive/deflective weapon. What would the legalities be if I were to use this torch in self defence?
As a little aside can I suggest the perfect weapon for defence of the home is a long Krooklock bar which you "forgot" to put on the steering wheel and just happened to be nearby when you needed it to knock the s**t out of the scroats who broke into your home. (Recommended to me by a police detective)
As the video points out, should you feel the need to defend yourself, anything that you might reach for becomes an offensive weapon if you pick it up with the intention of harming someone with it, but the police and CPS will not generally prosecute you if you have picked up the first thing that came to hand and only used it with reasonable force to defend yourself; which might mean waving it about and making threats towards the attacker, using it to parying any blows they might throw at you, or hitting them with it. If you only use it enough to stop them, and not to harm them any more than is necessary to get them to stop their attack, you have a defence in law.
@@tlangdon12 very true what you've said, but should it happen I will fear for my life, my wife ( even if she's out) I will believe I saw "some sort of weapon" and I will believe he/they were acting so crazily that they were high on drugs. Think any jury of MY peers would convict me? I know I wouldn't!
I have a large Maglite torch that uses 4 'D' cells, so is quite hefty. It stands on its nose beside my bed, as historically I needed it in a hurry a few times to shine out of the window to scare away aggressive cats when our timid cat was being attacked. I've often thought that if someone broke in, it would be quite effective as a cosh, but that is not its purpose for being there. I could carry it while out after dark, but presumably would need to show that my route included unlit areas, as if all my route was lit, there would be no need for a torch. We now get more light from a tiny LED pocket torch. Can't smack anyone with that.
@@nigelcox1451 Get a dog :) I have a smallish metal maglite that i carry in my back pocket when i walk the dog, as she has a unique gift for finding the darkest part of any hedge to do her business. In the event of need that would probably double up for defense as i could quickly flash someone in the face to temporarily "blind" them, crack them on the head (if needed), and run. I did try just using the light on my phone, but with the dog pulling all over the place i kept dropping it, so i got the maglite.
In your home you have your perfectly legal traditionally made Katana displayed on your wall, you kitchen knives, your cricket bat, pool cue, etc. The Krooklock is more of an in car device that sits on your passenger seat ready to be applied when you park.
Excellent advice once again, one thing about speaking to a lawyer, you presumably would not be answering any questions other than name, address and dob until you had spoken to your legal representative. Would that have any significant impact on the Police caution where not saying anything that you later rely on in court can be detrimental to your defence? Assuming that you have been cautioned and arrested and not just giving a witness statement. Thank you again for all the time you give up for these informative videos.
The wavy line on the katana is called the hamon and is the effect left over from hardening the edge of the blade which is harder to retain a sharper edge than the soft core which is there for support and to absorb impact. In cheaper swords a fake hamon is applied with acid for aesthetics, but a real hamon is a desired end result in the forging process.
@@ps8432 Interesting could you point to a source for this. I am aware of a number of concerns Japanese sword makers had with European construction as their understanding of western metallurgy meant they didn't think European swords (unfolded by that time) were as strong as their techniques despite this may have not been the case.
How dare you defend yourself against a larger stronger person/s, using a defensive tool. As we all know, there is a police officer on the corner of every street here in the UK!
@@OrangeHulk : You do actually see more imposters paid by the local council than actual police officers in some areas. There is even a company called "My Local Bobby" which will send an imposter police officer to your area for a fee.
@@tomcleary469 : No I am not. I have a very unfriendly rivalry with an ersatz policeman who works in the King's Road area of Chelsea. He drives a white Hyundai Ioniq with blue squares stuck to it to make it look like a police car, & goes around menacing anyone who's not from the area so that they don't go there.
Bit of a question- my dad owns a fine set of historical WW1 trench raiding weapons. They were given to him by his grandfather and other people. The collection involves knuckle dusters, knuckle dusters with with sharp projections, very big knives, clubs with bits sticking out and entrenching tools sharpened to an edge. I stand to inherit these items when he dies. Is it still legal to own such items in the privacy of your own home?
Generally yes, but some may not be and its probably best that you get legal advice from a qualified solicitor who knows your particular situation. Never trust anyone or anything you see on the internet, no matter how reliable, as an alternative to legal advice, if its not practical to have a solicitor talk to Citizen's Advice or other groups.
1:05 And that my friends, is exactly what is wrong with this country. It is absolutely ridiculous and violates our basic human rights. With all these idiots carrying and using knives these days, what can the general public do to protect themselves?
25 years ago anyway blow pipes, were legal in the US, the darts which had surgical steel shafts are potentially highly accurate and have and astonishing range. From one end of my RV to the other I scored five consecutive dart hits on dart hits. one hitting another hitting another etc...Not far but still highly accurate. They have a range of well over 100 meters - still some considerable accuracy.
Same with tree,conkers, until the anti fun brigade ,deemed them as dangerous to users,and others, everything can be a weapon ,if you look hard enough, the "line" keeps getting moved.
@@ianhill4585 You're joking; kids can't play conkers anymore? What's next - they're going to stop them learning to cook at school in case they cut or burn themselves? Why not just keep them in a cage? (Actually, some of them should be, lol!)
Some schools have banned them over the years after students got hurt or were reckless. Mine banned snowball fights after some started putting stones in them and some kid got badly hurt. Never been a country wide ban on playing conkers.
Quite right and common sense. As an employer I had to provide a letter to my chefs regarding their work knives. They had to be in a proper roll up cover and that in bag or even lockable case. They must not be easily identifiable or easily accessible. I had to state that they carried these direct from home to work and back or to catering college and back ONLY. Nothing should ever be carried as a defensive weapon and certainly never stated as such. A baseball bat behind a door or the old myth of bat, glove & ball in a car will not wash. The best defence is distance and situational awareness.
So, no he didn't it wasn't real it was a film. And yes all sorts of things are dangerous , I'm a psychiatric nurse and a patient in was about to assess in a medical ward in a general hospital killed himself with a desert spoon by stabbing himself in the eye with it whilst I was on my way to see him at lunchtime
@@sleepingwarrior4618 Need isn't really the point is it?! Many serious martial artists develop an interest in oriental weapons and, quite legally, start collecting a few. Now the law seems to have changed and even keeping a sword at home could be illegal.
I liked watching this upload very much, it resounded wth me as around 25 years ago I purchased from a company a type of baton that collapses in on itself. As is the case with the sentiment expressed in this upload I thought I'd carry it in my bag purely for self defence should someone attempt to mug me. I lived in a dodgy part of London at the time and thought it was perfectly ok. I showed it to a couple of friends or at least I thought they were. One of them knew something of the law at the time and told me it was in fact called a short-stanchion and was prohibited to possess it under law as it was considered an offensive weapon. On hearing this I disposed of it the following day by throwing it into a skip of a local company that recycled metal. A few days later a police officer knocked at my door and said that they had been informed that I had this item in my possession and proceeded to ask me where it was? I told them that I had disposed of it after finding out it was illegal to have it, I even suggested they could look around my flat if they wanted to confirm that I no longer had it. After a discussion we parted ways however not before I noticed that the thing I had purchased had been almost identical to the thing that the police officer was carrying on his belt at the time. I told the officer this and asked him if I could look at his one? He allowed me to do so and he even kindly demonstrated how it worked by extending it and then collapsing it. It was almost identical. I asked him if it was illegal for me to possess such an item how was it perfectly ok for him to carry one, I added that I was asking as surely he and other police officers are not above the law and are subject to it just as I was. He replied that he was permitted to carry it. He said in dummy terms so I could understand I imagine, that it was 'part of the tools of the trade' as such to allow him to perform the duties of his role effectively. Needless to say I found that somewhat two-faced, but it is what it is. One law for us, one law for them as it were.
It isn't really one law for is and one for them. The policeman couldn't take the baton home as it is part of the tools of the job as explained. I can't drive round with a machete in the car, but as a gardener I can.
I found this video very enlightening. For me it raises a number of questions; As a keen cook I possess a number of Japanese knives which are obviously potentially lethal, so my using them in my own home for self defence against an intruder would be ok, assuming I didn't go crazy and stab unnecessarily many times? Outdoors my limbs may be construed as offensive weapons if I punch or kicked an assailant in the throat/head potentially seriously damaging them? By the logic put forward in the video then Police officers are breaking the law by carrying offensive weapons such as extending batons, sprays, tasers etc (this is obviously a satirical question since there are some above the law). LOL You might consider these questions moot but in the real world this is the sort of stuff that costs thousands in court to resolve.
"Outdoors my limbs may be construed as offensive weapons" No they cannot. If you punch and kick, there's always the question of whether the amount of force you used was reasonable, but your body is not an offensive weapon. There are exemptions in law for the weapons that the police carry. They are not above the law. Just like they are not acting "above the law" when they exceed the speed limit in a car with lights and sirens.
You don't take your limbs out into public with the sole intention of using them as a weapon. As mentioned in the video it's not that you can't use an item to defend yourself - for example I've heard a story of a time someone used an umbrella to defend themselves but that was obviously not the reason they had it to hand
Hello thank you for this video. There is a company called training for engagement that sells the HDR50. It’s marketed as a home defence revolver. It fires 50 cal projectiles and is powered by CO2 gas. I was surprised to find out this hand gun was being sold legally here in the UK.
Yeah I would really like a video on this one. As you're allowed to use anything for self defence but not allowed to own anything for self defence. I really feel like using a HDR for home defence would be a hard sell to a jury.
The company umarex mainly make air guns. They make a few versions of the home defence range including a revolver a semiautomatic pistol and a double-barrelled shotgun. These range from .40 to .68cal. You can also legally buy hardened rubber/steel balls and all manor of other plastic and metal rounds/balls. They can be used with paintballs, but also lots of other types of ammunition that’s the same caliber. The uk versions are 7.5 joules keeping them legal as air guns or paintball guns. This 7.5 joules is very easily adjustable though with the simple removal of or addition of parts readily legally available. Yet the products are called hds (home defence shotgun) hdr (home defence revolver) and the hdp (homes defence pistol) would wording alone then make these “paintball or marker” guns illegal. Or is it still down to the intention of there use? If “it” is loaded with paintballs would that make there use in a defence situation less likely to get the user in trouble than if they were loaded with uk legal and easily available metal rounds? Obviously one will cause much less damage than the other.
@@paulcollyer801 - true about them swelling and bursting in the gun yeah. The problem is they don’t hurt enough to stop you. I’ve played quite a bit and yeah it hurts and can break the skin but not enough to stop you. Especially in a small space (house) someone could still get to you with a weapon. As I said you can get all sorts of ammunition for the home defence range.
What about wearing body armour for everyday things? Like ballistic, stab proof or just motorcycle armour, even if you don't have a motorcycle? Like without having a reasonable excuse for wearing it other than to help protect yourself from a random attacker, would it be seen as offensive and that you're somehow looking for a fight?
No I believe certain levels of body armour are licensed in the uk for security forces only. Police army etc. Stab vests are legal, but I think high level ballistic armour isn’t for “normal” people. Again it can easily be purchased though through army surplus suppliers
I was briefly a member of a Saxon battle reenactment group. The one and only battle I fought in, we won, and I not only 'survived' but achieved four or five strikes receiving none in return. II had previously received training at school by a one armed Olympic fencing trainer. Devoted group members held meetings banquets battles and craftsmen offered the considerably skilled services providing beautifully made armoury, shields and weapons et cetera. Others mate their own chain mail by hand with pliers and industrial staples.
If you upset a police person you could be charged unless you could convince cps you were carrying it for a specific reason. Now, habit is no excuse. After all, if they choose, they can arrest you for having a tyre lever in your car.
Its dark and I'm justifiably carrying and using a maglite torch. Will the court be able to say my intentions were to use it in an offensive/defensive manner if I happen to use it to defend myself.
Many years ago, I lived in a less desirable area of a certain city, and in my van, I always had at the side of the drivers seat a 15" monkey wrench. Probably illegal, but could say 'sorry, I just forgot to put it back in the tool box'. Fortunately, I never needed to use it other than what it was designed for
I find it absolutely ridiculous that the public in the uk cannot carry or use pepper spray as a means to defend themselves from an attack. I'm disabled and extremely vulnerable but even people like me cannot carry such an item that is non lethal and can mean the difference between getting away safe or ending up in hospital or worse.
I seem to remember that the UK's nuclear arsenal used to be described as a "Defensive weapon", so does that mean I could keep one in my garden shed to deter burglars? :) [Warning - Trespassers may be vaporised] :D
A Policeman told me to carry a large maglight torch if I have to investigate a possible night time intruder in and around the home/garage as it's large enough to provide some form of defence and if I DID have to use it in self defence i'd be much less likely to face possible charges as its night time, so clearly a torch would be required on my person in those circumstances.
I have a question: are entirely defensive items prohibited under this act? For example, a bullet-proof vest or a shield? These items may not be considered “weapons” in the sense that it is difficult to cause someone harm with them, but their primary purpose is combative and they may be described as “weaponry” in the broader sense of the word.
I think a lot of us now are of the opinion, if someone attacks you then it would be the attackers fault for attacking others. Police can't now police properly and let's face it, it is one's responsibility to protect one's self. There are a lot of laws really that take away people's protection and also subjugate them. However I recognise that you are explaining the law and not your opinion, I am just placing my thoughts on this. Thank you for your explanation
It terms of self defense items, I always make sure that my wife carries a powerful aluminium torch. With a strap. And fits nicely in a pocket. Any issues, shine it straight into their eyes, dazzle them with the bright light and that can give a few extra seconds to either get away, or prepare to use as a something to lash out with.
6D maglite in the car, spiked ring, axe collection in the bedroom...... then when someone attacks you can grab the nearest thing in the heat of the moment...... none of the items were for self defence, they just happened to be in the perfect place. :D
Slightly off topic but what are the regulations regarding deactivated weapons. I own WW2 MP40 machine pistol which has been deactivated back in 1991 to what’s known as ‘old spec’. I was thinking of selling the MP40 and took it to one of the local military fairs for one of the dealers to make me an offer. It was transported in the hatchback area of the car in a sports bag, so it could not be seen by any members of the public. I was wondering if my vehicle had been stopped by the police for any reason and they decided to searched my vehicle and discovered the weapon, what would they have done? I took with me the deactivation certificate which states the serial number stamped onto the weapon, which proves that it has been correctly deactivated.
If you have the paperwork and a legit reason to transport it you should be fine. I did a little WW2 re-enactment a few years ago and we were stopped on the M1 with about 5 deacs, over a dozen blank fire weapons and a single live fire rifle(legally owned and no live ammo with us). As we had the paperwork for it all we just spent 20-30 mins in a layby showing the coppers tommy guns and brens in the back of a transit van and that was it.
I have a hammer and long handled axe in my boot of the car with some other tools like , nails & a piece or two of small wood. These are for repairing my garden fence. But if needed I could use them in self defence
If you have a push bike you can carry a lock preferably a heavy padlock on a meter of heavy chain, you don't need said bike with you, only need to own one, you absent-mindedly left lock in pocket when left home .
The way I interpreted this is, if your out shopping and someone attacks you anything you use to defend yourself with could be interpreted as an illegal weapon!. Being retired military we were trained to use anything you can lay your hands on, so where would this leave us?
I Always want to know what is meant but "Traditional Methods" in the sense of reproduction blades for the purpose of re-enactment. In some daggers (eg Basilards) there is some evidence that some where made via stock removal ie take a lump of metal and grind out the shape. This method is often how "zombie knives" are made as its quite a cheap way of making something. Historically the blades were made this way as the price of some metals became cheaper and the daggers became more decorative than defensive.
"Historical methods" is a nonsense really. Pretty much every method has been used to manufacture weapons in the past. There was even an English boat excavated in ?Bordeaux? that dated back to the Hundred Years War full of iron swords that had been cast! Would probably have shattered on first contact with anything above a baguette though.
I am an old man (70+) and need to walk with a stick. I have made walking sticks for many years. Back in the day I was also a reasonably skilful HEMA swordsman. Oddly enough, all of my walking sticks handle exactly like swords...
@@inregionecaecorum I have needed a stick for the past 20 years. It has always amused me that in my days of international travel, I have been actively assisted to carry my steel-shod, fighting weight stick wheresoever I wish, at the same time being divested of sundry tiny nail files, scissors etc. and once - I kid you not - a pair of plastic scissors from an emergency first aid kit.
Technically "defensive weapon" is not what most people understand a "weapon". Historically the terms 'arm' and 'weapon' included armour, a defensive weapon is thus armour, as opposed an offensive weapon because it is used offensively (even if the purpose of that offensive action is overall defensive) whereas armour is defensive because its solely used to defend and cannot cause another offence. Most people wouldn't regard armour as a weapon today but to cover one's basis armour is what would be a defensive weapon. Obviously not what's being talked about here but still.
Wasn’t there a case where a balloon seller was done because he said that he never sold the balloons on his left hand to be able to throw them at muggers allowing him to make his escape - even though the balloons thrown in such a manner were incapable of causing harm, only slow a mugger down as he legged it.
You can buy a police/military style riot shield from Amazon. These are clearly to be used for defence, but do they count as a weapon? If I hold a shield between us and you try to hit me with your fists then you will suffer harm, if I push back to cause you to break off your attack then you will suffer harm. Does that make it a weapon?
I carry a heavy duty pen and diary. A torch and Swiss army knife and a sec 139 legal pen knife. sometimes a pouch with a 1st aid kit etc. There are loopholes potentially , however UK law is anti decent person in my opinion, the law favourably helps the greater bad. I am no lawyer but I cant help but think UK law needs a rework to favour the innocent and greater clarity. I respect law but often find UK law favours the potential criminal .
So the point is , any weapon that can be legally carried will be carried legally by people with criminal intent, there would be no way of stopping them until they committed an offense. So it is an offense to go equipt for violence
@@ziggarillo carrying a pen for writing is not an offence. Carrying a pen knife for cutting string etc is not an offence if under 3 inch and non locking.
@@ziggarillo really? So nobody lawfully got into a car and intentionally ran someone over? I get the initial prong of your argument but upon analysis it doesn't hold up ! You assuming any right of Cary just a free for all for one!
As someone that is adept in Akido. If said attacker came at me with a bladed weapon, and I manipulated him in such a way that he caused severe injury to himself.... and when the police arrived, he still had hold of the said bladed weapon, sticking in his own leg. How would that play out in court? what defence could one use, if the said attacker said that he was attacked by me, and I grabbed him as he was in the process of removing the knife from his leg? Just askin' for a friend....
Reckon you’d be fine, you wouldn’t be in possession of the knife, he would. Bit like someone trying to hit you with a badly maintained axe, the head comes off at the top of their swing and lands on their noggin...no-ones going to take them seriously if they try to argue that it was your fault because if they didn’t feel a need to hit you then they wouldn’t have 2lbs of steel imbedded in their skull... You might be going a bit far if you tried to claim a hernia from laughing so hard as an aggravating feature though...😉
The police might ask why someone who is adept at Akido could not have disarmed the attacker or twisted his arm behind his back and arrested him. This is a question that 'your friend' needs to have discussed with their solicitor before deciding what to tell the police about how how the attacker became injured. In reality, the police and CPS understand that in a fight there really is no telling what the outcome will be, it is just chance whether the weapons ends up in your leg or the attacker's leg. In true self-defence situations there can be no time to evaluate risk; there is just the immediate need to protect oneself, so one does so, without thought of the consequences or risks. The police and CPS take this into account.
@@tlangdon12, I agree. Having a bit of background in this area, the memorable phrase which springs to mind is that “In the agony of the moment, one cannot be expected to weight matters to a nicety”...or, in more prosaic language ‘If shit goes south, sometimes shit happens’.
just use any normal item you happen to have with you at the time, anything can be a weapon if needed, a vape ( if you smoke) , a torch ( walking the dog in the dark), your mobile phone, your stilettoes ladies ( and gents) , or the wall you happen to be passing when attacked . Don't use keys like woman self defense seem to love as its lousy and unlikely to work.
Can you discuss, why or how the establishment believe they can protect the general population from criminal acts of robbery or injury. The serving on duty police officers have batons, tasers and body armour to defend themselves. Incidentally, in some countries, not the UK, even certain grades of body armour are restricted.
Intent ,is a big thing. Many things can be used as a weapon, but are," items or tools", as soon as you say it's for self defence you are cooked! It's up to the law to prove your illegal carrying of the item, you can use a rolled up newspaper for example as a club,but it's not illegal to carry one .But it could ward off a mugger.So , entertainment or defence / offense?
If you use something "to hand" to defend yourself then in that instant you have an offensive weapon "with" you. The law gives no expemption under any circumstance, not self-defence, NOTHING. If you cannot have an item to defend yourself before you face a specific threat then nothing changes when the intent only appears against a specific threat. Either self-defense is a "reasonable excuse" or it isn't, because it's totally unreasonable to attempt to make or adapt a defensive weapon in the instant you are attacked.
Would one of those devices which give out a high frequency sound inaudible to adults but painful to young people amount to an offensive weapon, do you think? I ask because I have come across an example of one that caused such pain to a teenager who was simply walking on the pavement past a garden with one in.
So I'f a defensive weapon or a normal item was kept in the house for the use of defence would that still be illegal, ie a baseball near the front door.
Would it be applicable to refer to a potential "defensive weapon" as a "defensive tool" instead? e.g. I carried my overly large walking stick as a deterrant from being harrassed or attacked. i.e. The intent is not to injure the other party, the intent is to deter the other party from causing an altercation to begin with, therefore technically giving another purpose to the tool than to cause harm?
All weapons are offensive weapons, the decision to carry it as a weapon makes it offensive. Defensive is an item that was to hand that you had not previously considered could be used as a weapon until your life was endagered. If you put it somewhere deliberately "in case" you needed it in a fight you're guilty.
Your only allowed to use every day things you carry... Like keys or a phone, in extreme case where someone is coming at you with a weapon if there a house brick close by hand then I'd say you could pick it up and us it. I think it's all about responding with the same force that's coming at you.
If I regularly go for overnight walks, and I've decided that my brittle bone disease means that I cannot safely block hand/foot blows because my forearm bones might well break...then, I get children's shin guards stitched between the main fabric and the lining of my jacket sleeves, so that my bones are no longer in danger of breaking because they have a pure defensive item stopping that from happening...am I breaking the law, by going out with that jacket (or those jackets) on? Food for thought! The only use they have, in those jacket sleeves, is to DEFEND: they have no offensive application possible with them...would my going out, in those jackets, be legally safe to do?
I have farb spray, haven’t used it yet. Just wondering if i need to a give a warning to an attacker or use it as a preemptive strike if a would be attacker swings at me
I would suggest if your intention is that the spray doesn’t cause harm, but marks the individual for the police to identify them. No different to the spray used in money vans.
P.S. as some one with a bad knee, when I go walking, I always use a cane. And back in the late 1700's through the 1800's, Gentlemen took a cane with them, not just for walking, but thrashing the odd evil doer. So is this a illegal thing for me to use in England? Of course I'd use my cane to defend myself, if it came to that.
What about if you carry a shield or something else defensive? I realise you could still hurt someone by heating them with a shield but the main purpose of a shield is defence not offence so surly it would be hard for prosecution to prove you intended to use it for harm? Its a crap world were criminals can attack you with anything they like but you can' defend yourself with a pencil for fear of getting done.
Very interesting video, love all your stuff. I was stopped at a knife arch a couple of years ago. All my metal went in the tray and at that point it occurred to me my house keys were basically a weapon. 4x Yale, 2x mortice, a bike lock and a couple of padlock keys. All on a climbing carabineer. Should I slim this down to just the 3* I need to enter my dwelling or carry on? I do like to be able to open all doors to my property but they would cause harm if swung at an attacker. As you say a bottle is an innocent item until broken. I guess they are a tool until used offensively and then it would depend on circumstances and a cases merits.
I use the size of my key ring to keep an eye on how complicated my life is. I have actively seperated off bunches of keys that I only need on certain occasions from my main keyring.
what about a shield, like a literal round shield, would that be legal as its not even technically a "weapon" and was created for the purpose of self protection
A thought provoking and useful video. Thanks BBB. I have commented on a comment below that I think that a defence of self-defence stands even if the defendant was using a prohibited weapon. e.g. If Tony Martin had fired a few feet behind Fred Barras and a freak ricochet had caused the fatal injury, it is likely that his defence of self-defence would resulted in a Not Guilty verdict even though the shot was fired from a weapon that Tony Martin did not have a licence for. Do you agree that if I have a prohibited knife and I use it to defend myself in a wholly valid situation I have a valid 'self-defence' defence against a charge of wounding, but cannot defend myself against a charge for possession of the knife?
I just bought a multi-tool from LIDL, and to my surprise the knife on it, when unfolded, locks into place. Presumably that makes it illegal to carry in the UK? I've never had that with a multi-tool before!
Sadly, yes. I learned this a little while back...and I have a background in this area. However, consider reasonable excuse; if you’re out on your mountain bike, out camping, fishing, in the woods doing bushcraft etc, then you should be fine just be careful with what you say about the item.
@@sleepingwarrior4618, agreed! Watch what you say (sorry, but unfortunately it’s true). If you have a good reason for having it on you, no-one’s likely to notice until you’re using it and, if it’s in context, no-one is likely to worry... Best defence, don’t come to the attention of the Police!
@@paulcollyer801 I had a pretend copper who half knew a law stop me. Im a mobile car detailer. I was using a window scraper with a stanley blade in the end to remove a car window sticker.. Pretend copper starts to flex and calls for help from the bully gang saying it was brandishing a fixed bladed weapon.. Fortunately my customer (a lawyer) saw what was happening when the 3rd rozzer turned up she jumped in and schooled them. They prodded their trotters at their phones for a while and buggered off. No apology or anything. Needless to say... This and the few other interactions ive had with the cops. I have little respect for the cops now.
It's illegal to carry any kind of locking knife in the UK without a good reason. A good reason needs to be specific to the time at which you're carrying it. For example, a chef can't just carry chef's knives because he's a chef -- he has to be, e.g., on his way to or from work. "It's on my multi-tool and my multi-tool is a generally useful thing to have around" isn't going to count as a good reason. A good reason would be something along the lines of "It's on my multi-tool and I'm on my way to this thing for which I specifically need the tool." Best leave the multi-tool at home: it's not illegal to possess, just to carry in a public place.
I'm quite safe overnight in my motorhome. Kitchen full of knives and a 3 ft breaker bar to remove wheel nuts. All quite handy in case of an intruder :)
Er, didn't you mean to say your hand might accidently fall on one of those items and in the heat of the moment used to defend yourself if you were in fear for your life and was never left by the door as a weapon for self defence but by sheer good fortune happened to be there after you had checked your wheel nuts and not got around to stowing it safely away in the tool kit?
So, coming back to the pocket knife: I consider this "standard equipment" in my purse. I mainly need it to butter bread or cut cheese or fruit when I'm out of the house and decide on a rustic snack, and use it almost exclusively for that purpose. The thought of using it for defence has genuinely never entered my mind. However, since it is one of the more versatile/better equipped and therefore bigger models of Swiss Army knives, it does have a blade lock to make it safe to use. Is it illegal to have this e.g. in my hiking backpack? Also, what about walking into a homeware store and buying a large vegetable knife because you need a new one? Is it illegal to carry it home?!
The Swiss Army knife will be illegal to carry on the streets if it has a locking blade (what ever size) but if you can prove you were camping then it could be ok. For example, if you went out clubbing/pubs on a Saturday night and take a Swiss army knife with you then that could be seen as illegal if you are searched by Police. If you are searched at Glastonbury then you could say you’re camping. Buying a large vegetable knife and carrying it home, it should be sealed up, in a bag. No problem if you can show the receipt to prove where you bought it and you can demonstrate you were taking it home. But again, if you are out in pubs at night with a kitchen knife in a bag, you have no chance…….
What about shields? A shield is not designed to injure people but prevent injury. But it clearly can be used to injure people. As I understand it in the uk body armour is legal. Are shields? If some one goes about carrying a riot shield just in case they get attacked does the fact they prepared for combat by carrying something who’s use in combat is not to cause injury make them guilty of carrying an offensive weapon if it has the potential to be used in combat to cause injury?
How about carrying a can of ‘MACE’ spray ? In 1989 the F1 Driver Bertrand Gachot was sentenced to 18 months in prison because he sprayed a Taxi driver with Mace when they got into a road rage argument and then a fight. His attitude [including his lawyer] said that the Taxi driver attacked him and he used the Mace to defend himself [in his home country of France Mace was legal to carry for that purpose at the time so this is why he was carrying it]. The judge took the view that the Can of Mace was an offensive weapon and gave him 18 months. [this was when Michael Schumacher unexpectedly got his 1st ever drive in F1 because no one expected Bertrand to get prison sentence]
Being disabled with a broken back and badly smashed up pelvis, courtesy of an IRA bomb, I use crutches to walk with. I'm facing prosecution for gbh because I used my crutches to disarm an attacker, who had pulled a knife on me and lay him out unconscious on the ground with them. I'm being charged with use of unreasonable force against the assailant despite the fact he was trying to stab me with the knife. I've made no other statement except I acted in defence of myself. However, the police are saying that it wasn't self defence because the way I defended myself ewith my crutches demonstrated that I knew how to use them as weapons. So where do I stand. I have several witnesses who have stated that I was attacked by the other person who was shouting that he was going to kill me. Where do I stand?
Traffic stop: No officer, 'I have a very sharp axe in the boot of my car, for the purpose of chopping wood up for my log burner, on private land of which I own!' 'It is an offensive weapon sir!' 'No officer, the purpose of that axe is only for chopping up wood, for my log burner, on private land of which I own!; never has it come into my mind, to have the intention of using such a tool, as a weapon offensively, or defensively!' This has happened to me, on more than one occasion and I was sent on my way! Know the law, and do not allow any key stone cop to manipulate what you say! Do not deviate from a straight forward statement.
On the point of mispeaking, under stress, heat of the moment or otherwise, is there any provisions or precedent or acknowledgement within the legal system for people to change their mind or rationale without prejudice? I assume typically if you change your statement at a later date its viewed skeptically. But is the fact that people often can be confused or mistaken and need time to gather their thoughts well understood by judges and jurys?
Anyother perfect example of why everyone should train some martial arts - if absolutley no defensive tools are allowed for the purpose of defending yourself then thats your only recourse. Would this included say anyone wearing an anti stabb vest as that could be considered for self defence or is clothing allowed? Its my understanding that a rape alarm is the only legal defensive tool.
What about things like sgian dubh? They are obviously a knife and historically have a self defence role. Do they come under the cateegory of antique enev if they are brand new or is there another definition for "costume" articles?
A sgian dubh is fine to carry assuming it is part of national dress. If not it will likely be treated as any other fixed blade knife and therefore illegal to carry.
@@bobadams7654 I understand laws are applicable to everyone no matter the gender, sexuality ethnicity ect. But I'm wondering if anyone has ever got out of prosecution because the law stated him and it was a her.
Please could you do an episode on the following: I carry a legal EDC knife. The blade length is under 3 inches and its non locking. If I got into a situation where I had to use it to defend myself (someone pulled a weapon on me, or threatened my life etc) how would the court handle this? Would it be an offensive weapon, or a legal every day carry item that I resorted to using in self defence but not carried for this purpose?
@@paulcollyer801 no requirement to retreat ! "when a violent felony is committed against a man he can meet force with force and even kill the aggrossor" r vs Chisam 1963 (capital murder)
@@paulcollyer801 just because you want to be a victum dont force that on everyone else ! the law is very clear there is NO duty to retreat and one can meet for force with force including lethal force if it reasonable in the circumstances . since 2008 its harder for the DPP to get an bill of indictment in such cases
This is a great example of why you should decline to answer until you have a lawyer regardless of how innocent you believe yourself to be - because you may inadvertently say something which incriminates you needlessly.
I'm always very careful when at at re-enactment event to minimise the use of any of my medieval reproduction weapons, outside of controlled displays. I'm always on private land, but often the paying public are present, and I'm in medieval clothing, but even so I am very careful with weapons, and wouldn't for example, take one to the pub afterwards, even if in historical clothing!
Very sensible approach! I would love to come and watch and exhibit examples here!
Also just noticed I was “purged” from yours subs, so re-subscribed!
@@BlackBeltBarrister somtimes UA-cam befuddles me, and yes It might be a good collaboration to look at how the law might consider reenactment weapons and how they ought, or ought not, be used.
@@ModernKnight For my one and only battle I was provided a stout stick It proved more than adequate. And very basic sack cloth clothing and leggings.
@@ModernKnight yes, let’s do that!
Thank you for this video.
As a knife collector and maker, I spend a lot of time trying to keep up with the mercurial nature of UK "weapons" laws. I certainly think that most people dont realise that if they tell a police officer that they are carrying ANYTHING for the purposes of self defence, they are now facing a criminal charge. Even if that item is a pencil or a can of baked beans.
I appreciate you taking the time to cover this in more detail mate.
Hi, just a genuine question - why do you collect knives? Is it the look, the history, range or something else? Thanks :)
@@squadmoralerestored Excellent question, and one I've never really thought about. I spend most of my time at a keyboard, and I wanted to do something constructive and physical as a hobby. I was only really tinkering and then found some UA-cam knife making channels, got into hobbyist metalwork and eventually made a knife. During this process I learned a lot about the design and history of knives, and bought a few. I guess it also helps that Im into camping and bush craft. As someone who primarily works digitally, it was just very satisfying doing something real with my hands, and I learned a lot of useful skills (I can actually fix and make stuff now.)
I probably spent too much money on knives, but they are a store of value, and I got some iconic ones. Some I use, most I store, although Ive stopped buying more now.
I would note that I am absolutely NOT an advocate of knives as self-defence tools in the UK. Personally I see them as lethal force weapons, so using them for self defence in a country like the UK is both ludicrous and completely illegal. Personally, I usually dont even carry a UK Legal EDC most of the time.
That being said, if I was camping and I lost my can opener, I could use a Kabar to open the can, and then turn the can into a hobo stove. I find it immensely satisfying being able to do stuff like that in this digital world. (I hope this all makes sense)
@@TheWtfnonamez Thanks so much for such a lengthy reply - it makes a lot of sense :) :)
I ALWAYS used to keep a 6 "D cell" Maglite in the door pocket of my van. It was really useful to light up dirty countryside road signs at night, or to see when doing pre/post shift vehicle checks in winter, and was even occasionally a pretty good makeshift hammer. If I was getting out of the van in a rough area after dark I'd also drop it into it's belt holder ring and take it with me because since motion sensor lights became the norm, house numbers are often in the shadows until you actually walk up the door.
Because the old 6 cell Maglite's were pretty hefty lumps, the natural way to use them was to have your hand near the head, and support the rest of it's mass on your shoulder, which also meant that if someone approached with the intent to cause you harm, You already happened to have this situationally appropriate (and totally innocuous) item in your hand, But coincidentally, it also resembled a weighted baseball bat that was already in an almost perfect position to be swung, and added about an extra foot to your reach.
You'd probably get done for attempted murder I often carry my toolbag in which I have various tools and equipment with aerated and bladed edges in which are stored at the top of the bag to prevent cutting through the bottom of the bag in which if I'm attacked may just be the first item I grab ...
And while you are carrying it in this way, keep a finger on the on/off button. That way you can disorientate the other person with a blinding light while you consider what to do.
Reman1975
No disrespect Reman, but with smaller torches nowadays with much superior luminosity no cop is going to give you the benefit of the doubt on you clobbering anyone with a six cell maglite. There again your job isn't to confront people in the dark and a better light will let you see them sooner so you can report to your control room or police sooner. I had a loon shine his magic light toy at me from over 100 m away and it actually blinded me to the extent I had to kneel down to blink the effects away. The unfortunate thing is it was someone in a TA camp who did it.
ITS NICE TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE YOU TO SPEND TIME DOING THESE HELPFULL VIDEO S AND HELPING PEOPLE OUT,
THANKS
Recently got recommended your channel and it's always very interesting. I like that you don't give your opinions on what you believe the law should be, just the facts.
There seems to be a lot of dunning-kruger effect when it comes to British law, I've noticed it a lot in conversations about knife law recently. People thinking for some reason that they can carry any size knife as long as it folds etc, also people who think the only reason one would carry a "legal" knife is to hurt someone. Very strange!
Anyway, hopefully the algorithm boosts you mate.
Thank you!
@@sleepingwarrior4618 my issue with this is the same with many laws opinion not facts can dictate what happens with ANY knife, a leather man toolkit got me in bother, I'm an electrician and have had one on my belt for decades till I got stopped by a pissed off policeman, clear right from the start his mood was terrible, luckily another officer came over and turned it down. Never worn it since but its wrong it's hardly a weapon besides Its a tool for me
@@robba1234 I'm also an electrician but not one that does house wiring. I would have to be psychic not to be in danger from the law. Otherwise I have no way of knowing if a court would decide what I'm using my knife for is legitimate or not. However, I've always just taken a chance and never had a problem.
@@Rayxl1 I didn't "till I did" and reasonable was not in this guys vocabulary. I mean a leather man knife is hardly a weapon, but despite carving knives etc being most likely they blanket ban.. Easy answer
English law is lame when it comes to self defence...NEVER admit to carrying an everyday item for self defence, without an admission, prosecution can never prove the requisite intention for an everyday item that has not been modified for use in an altercation...use whatever is necessary to defend yourself / repel an attacker, cops cannot protect you when you're being attacked 99% of the time, only you can protect yourself 99% of the time.
Edit: For what it's worth...You're better off being judged by 12 than be carried by 6...stay streetwise and stay safe everyone👊
You're welcome.
Agreed, we have all these laws that hamper law abiding citizens, whilst giving criminals an enormous amount of flexibility, and tactical advantage.
@@cromwellsghost3434 It's because.law abiding citizens will talk themselves into trouble and the police know they can't touch the hardened criminal because they'll never admit anything. Police these days are lazy or incompetent, or more usually both, and need to meet targets so who do you think they're going to prosecute? Who do you think they'll choose to come after? Never, ever, under any circumstances allow police into your house without a earrent or speak to them without a lawyer even if they're just asking you to "help" them.
It's terrible that this country has come to the point when we have more to fear from the police than we do from criminals and it's only going to get worse as we slide into totalitarianism.
That's right. The law takes away all rights to protect yourself and then cuts police funding and refuses to hand down decent punishments... Therefore, you are more likely to be attacked than to be protected from an attack and the perpetrator is more likely to get away with out any reasonable punishment if they are even caught in the first place...
If someone attacks you and you injure them defending yourself, the first thing the police will do is investigate to see if you were justified in defending yourself... Protect the rights of the criminals, at all costs...
@@cliveadams7629 39 people died due to a terror attack in the last 10 years, and 139 people died in Police custody for the same period. Thinks its important to remember that as per your figures your approx 3.5 times more likely to die at the hands of the police than at the hands of terrorists..And bear in mind the police are 100% acting for your safety whilst terrorists are acting 100% to KILL you...
So either the police are very good at being terrorists or should we trust terrorists more than the police when it comes to public safety...
@@esecallum Police are foockin useless when it comes to criminals, they're scared of them and the crooks are too much like hard work. Which is why they go for easy pickings, the kind of people who trust & rely on the police & so are easy to manipulate into confessing or saying things that can be made to look bad in court. And as you say, if that doesn't work then have a little accident whilst in custody. Never trust the police, they're not there to protect you.
A continuation on this I think would be quite interesting for viewers, would you be able to explain the uses and legal ramifications of Farb Gel, I think it is used as a criminal identifier and in some cases as advertised a non harmful self defense spray. I have always been intrigued what the legal ramifications of using Farb Gel actually are, not that I would use it myself. Keep up the magnificent work and all the very best to you...
Same as absolutely anything else. If you're carrying it for the purpose of self defence, it's illegal. You could carry a dish mop for self defence and it would be illegal. Intent is much more important here than the actual object.
Featured on @BlackBeltSecrets - ua-cam.com/video/aKqIu4nkwi8/v-deo.html
Best advice I had was to carry a torch at night. You have a perfectly valid reason for it, it can be in your hand quite justifiably but should you be attacked it has a number of other uses.
When I was with Victim Support, back in 1993 or thereabouts, one of the questions I asked was about self defence. This also tied in with the fact that I had been mugged around that time too, which led me to the Ninjutsu dojo, but I was keen to understand how I could defend myself and advise others to defend themselves if necessary without attracting the unwanted attention of HM Plod. I was green and cabbage-looking back in the day, but I still knew my onions.
This reminds me of something back in the late 1980's. I used to work for a company that made hand held computers, which were at the time, about the size of an house brick. A particular famous catalogue company at the time came to us as they were interested in supplying their reps with the computers for use when money collecting (In those days, if you bought from a catalogue, a rep would come round every week to your house to collect part payment). They asked if we could do things like changing the keyboard layout etc, but the one thing they did ask for as a necessity, was if we could ruggedise the unit, so that if any of the customers were violent to the rep, that they could use the computer as a weapon.
Ruggedising the unit for use in the field is clearly a good idea, but I do hope that your employer declined to add sharp edges!
@@tlangdon12 They were designed for use outdoors in harsh environments, so already ruggedised, waterproof, fully working after drop test onto concrete from 2m etc. What they wanted was the wrist strap and it's mounting reinforcing so it didn't break off when they whacked someone over the head with it as well as some modifications to the shape of the case. We declined the contract as it wasn't financially viable to change the injection moulding tool for the low number of units they wanted.
I am a Security Officer and I often take my 6 cell Maglte on patrol with me. It is primarily a torch but if needed, it could be used as a defensive/deflective weapon. What would the legalities be if I were to use this torch in self defence?
As a little aside can I suggest the perfect weapon for defence of the home is a long Krooklock bar which you "forgot" to put on the steering wheel and just happened to be nearby when you needed it to knock the s**t out of the scroats who broke into your home. (Recommended to me by a police detective)
As the video points out, should you feel the need to defend yourself, anything that you might reach for becomes an offensive weapon if you pick it up with the intention of harming someone with it, but the police and CPS will not generally prosecute you if you have picked up the first thing that came to hand and only used it with reasonable force to defend yourself; which might mean waving it about and making threats towards the attacker, using it to parying any blows they might throw at you, or hitting them with it. If you only use it enough to stop them, and not to harm them any more than is necessary to get them to stop their attack, you have a defence in law.
@@tlangdon12 very true what you've said, but should it happen I will fear for my life, my wife ( even if she's out) I will believe I saw "some sort of weapon" and I will believe he/they were acting so crazily that they were high on drugs. Think any jury of MY peers would convict me? I know I wouldn't!
I have a large Maglite torch that uses 4 'D' cells, so is quite hefty. It stands on its nose beside my bed, as historically I needed it in a hurry a few times to shine out of the window to scare away aggressive cats when our timid cat was being attacked. I've often thought that if someone broke in, it would be quite effective as a cosh, but that is not its purpose for being there.
I could carry it while out after dark, but presumably would need to show that my route included unlit areas, as if all my route was lit, there would be no need for a torch.
We now get more light from a tiny LED pocket torch. Can't smack anyone with that.
@@nigelcox1451 Get a dog :) I have a smallish metal maglite that i carry in my back pocket when i walk the dog, as she has a unique gift for finding the darkest part of any hedge to do her business. In the event of need that would probably double up for defense as i could quickly flash someone in the face to temporarily "blind" them, crack them on the head (if needed), and run. I did try just using the light on my phone, but with the dog pulling all over the place i kept dropping it, so i got the maglite.
In your home you have your perfectly legal traditionally made Katana displayed on your wall, you kitchen knives, your cricket bat, pool cue, etc. The Krooklock is more of an in car device that sits on your passenger seat ready to be applied when you park.
Excellent advice once again, one thing about speaking to a lawyer, you presumably would not be answering any questions other than name, address and dob until you had spoken to your legal representative. Would that have any significant impact on the Police caution where not saying anything that you later rely on in court can be detrimental to your defence? Assuming that you have been cautioned and arrested and not just giving a witness statement.
Thank you again for all the time you give up for these informative videos.
Really great advice I love watching your videos very informative and to the point thanks!
Please keep doing what you’re doing, because the average honest person on the street needs this info
The wavy line on the katana is called the hamon and is the effect left over from hardening the edge of the blade which is harder to retain a sharper edge than the soft core which is there for support and to absorb impact. In cheaper swords a fake hamon is applied with acid for aesthetics, but a real hamon is a desired end result in the forging process.
It also gives a harder to heal wound. This is a scientific fact, not opinion. It was an advantage for the owner, and looks good.
@@ps8432 Interesting could you point to a source for this. I am aware of a number of concerns Japanese sword makers had with European construction as their understanding of western metallurgy meant they didn't think European swords (unfolded by that time) were as strong as their techniques despite this may have not been the case.
How dare you defend yourself against a larger stronger person/s, using a defensive tool. As we all know, there is a police officer on the corner of every street here in the UK!
Seeing a police officer on the street would be such a rare I sight I would immediately think it more likely to be an imposter.
@@OrangeHulk : You do actually see more imposters paid by the local council than actual police officers in some areas. There is even a company called "My Local Bobby" which will send an imposter police officer to your area for a fee.
@@ccityplanner1217 Please tell me you are joking
@@tomcleary469 : No I am not.
I have a very unfriendly rivalry with an ersatz policeman who works in the King's Road area of Chelsea. He drives a white Hyundai Ioniq with blue squares stuck to it to make it look like a police car, & goes around menacing anyone who's not from the area so that they don't go there.
Bit of a question- my dad owns a fine set of historical WW1 trench raiding weapons. They were given to him by his grandfather and other people.
The collection involves knuckle dusters, knuckle dusters with with sharp projections, very big knives, clubs with bits sticking out and entrenching tools sharpened to an edge.
I stand to inherit these items when he dies.
Is it still legal to own such items in the privacy of your own home?
Generally yes, but some may not be and its probably best that you get legal advice from a qualified solicitor who knows your particular situation. Never trust anyone or anything you see on the internet, no matter how reliable, as an alternative to legal advice, if its not practical to have a solicitor talk to Citizen's Advice or other groups.
1:05 And that my friends, is exactly what is wrong with this country. It is absolutely ridiculous and violates our basic human rights. With all these idiots carrying and using knives these days, what can the general public do to protect themselves?
It always surprises me that blowpipes (peashooters) are proscribed weapons. When I was a kid peashooters were such great fun.
25 years ago anyway blow pipes, were legal in the US, the darts which had surgical steel shafts are potentially highly accurate and have and astonishing range. From one end of my RV to the other I scored five consecutive dart hits on dart hits. one hitting another hitting another etc...Not far but still highly accurate. They have a range of well over 100 meters - still some considerable accuracy.
Same with tree,conkers, until the anti fun brigade ,deemed them as dangerous to users,and others, everything can be a weapon ,if you look hard enough, the "line" keeps getting moved.
@@ianhill4585 You're joking; kids can't play conkers anymore? What's next - they're going to stop them learning to cook at school in case they cut or burn themselves? Why not just keep them in a cage? (Actually, some of them should be, lol!)
Some schools have banned them over the years after students got hurt or were reckless. Mine banned snowball fights after some started putting stones in them and some kid got badly hurt. Never been a country wide ban on playing conkers.
Excellent, easy to understand, overview
Many thanks.
Quite right and common sense. As an employer I had to provide a letter to my chefs regarding their work knives. They had to be in a proper roll up cover and that in bag or even lockable case. They must not be easily identifiable or easily accessible. I had to state that they carried these direct from home to work and back or to catering college and back ONLY. Nothing should ever be carried as a defensive weapon and certainly never stated as such. A baseball bat behind a door or the old myth of bat, glove & ball in a car will not wash. The best defence is distance and situational awareness.
John Wick killed 3 men in a bar with a pencil,
With a f*cking pencil.
Sorry but I couldn't resist posting this.
So, no he didn't it wasn't real it was a film. And yes all sorts of things are dangerous , I'm a psychiatric nurse and a patient in was about to assess in a medical ward in a general hospital killed himself with a desert spoon by stabbing himself in the eye with it whilst I was on my way to see him at lunchtime
As one martial artist to another I'd really appreciate you did a video on "samurai" sword ownership in the UK. Oss
@@sleepingwarrior4618 Need isn't really the point is it?! Many serious martial artists develop an interest in oriental weapons and, quite legally, start collecting a few. Now the law seems to have changed and even keeping a sword at home could be illegal.
@@sleepingwarrior4618 They could be under the new law ... even if kept at home. Mr BBB has a sword under his TV so I reckon it's pretty relevant.
I liked watching this upload very much, it resounded wth me as around 25 years ago I purchased from a company a type of baton that collapses in on itself.
As is the case with the sentiment expressed in this upload I thought I'd carry it in my bag purely for self defence should someone attempt to mug me. I lived in a dodgy part of London at the time and thought it was perfectly ok.
I showed it to a couple of friends or at least I thought they were. One of them knew something of the law at the time and told me it was in fact called a short-stanchion and was prohibited to possess it under law as it was considered an offensive weapon. On hearing this I disposed of it the following day by throwing it into a skip of a local company that recycled metal.
A few days later a police officer knocked at my door and said that they had been informed that I had this item in my possession and proceeded to ask me where it was? I told them that I had disposed of it after finding out it was illegal to have it, I even suggested they could look around my flat if they wanted to confirm that I no longer had it.
After a discussion we parted ways however not before I noticed that the thing I had purchased had been almost identical to the thing that the police officer was carrying on his belt at the time.
I told the officer this and asked him if I could look at his one? He allowed me to do so and he even kindly demonstrated how it worked by extending it and then collapsing it. It was almost identical. I asked him if it was illegal for me to possess such an item how was it perfectly ok for him to carry one, I added that I was asking as surely he and other police officers are not above the law and are subject to it just as I was.
He replied that he was permitted to carry it. He said in dummy terms so I could understand I imagine, that it was 'part of the tools of the trade' as such to allow him to perform the duties of his role effectively.
Needless to say I found that somewhat two-faced, but it is what it is. One law for us, one law for them as it were.
So you were not able to protect yourself in the same way, going about your legal business?!
Your suggestion being that because police can carry firearms so should you?
It isn't really one law for is and one for them. The policeman couldn't take the baton home as it is part of the tools of the job as explained. I can't drive round with a machete in the car, but as a gardener I can.
The police aren't there for your benefit!
@@kingsbury26 actually the batons are taken home ! Guns and tasers and sprays left
I found this video very enlightening. For me it raises a number of questions; As a keen cook I possess a number of Japanese knives which are obviously potentially lethal, so my using them in my own home for self defence against an intruder would be ok, assuming I didn't go crazy and stab unnecessarily many times?
Outdoors my limbs may be construed as offensive weapons if I punch or kicked an assailant in the throat/head potentially seriously damaging them?
By the logic put forward in the video then Police officers are breaking the law by carrying offensive weapons such as extending batons, sprays, tasers etc (this is obviously a satirical question since there are some above the law). LOL You might consider these questions moot but in the real world this is the sort of stuff that costs thousands in court to resolve.
"Outdoors my limbs may be construed as offensive weapons" No they cannot. If you punch and kick, there's always the question of whether the amount of force you used was reasonable, but your body is not an offensive weapon.
There are exemptions in law for the weapons that the police carry. They are not above the law. Just like they are not acting "above the law" when they exceed the speed limit in a car with lights and sirens.
You don't take your limbs out into public with the sole intention of using them as a weapon. As mentioned in the video it's not that you can't use an item to defend yourself - for example I've heard a story of a time someone used an umbrella to defend themselves but that was obviously not the reason they had it to hand
Hello thank you for this video. There is a company called training for engagement that sells the HDR50.
It’s marketed as a home defence revolver. It fires 50 cal projectiles and is powered by CO2 gas.
I was surprised to find out this hand gun was being sold legally here in the UK.
Yeah I would really like a video on this one. As you're allowed to use anything for self defence but not allowed to own anything for self defence. I really feel like using a HDR for home defence would be a hard sell to a jury.
The company umarex mainly make air guns. They make a few versions of the home defence range including a revolver a semiautomatic pistol and a double-barrelled shotgun. These range from .40 to .68cal. You can also legally buy hardened rubber/steel balls and all manor of other plastic and metal rounds/balls. They can be used with paintballs, but also lots of other types of ammunition that’s the same caliber.
The uk versions are 7.5 joules keeping them legal as air guns or paintball guns. This 7.5 joules is very easily adjustable though with the simple removal of or addition of parts readily legally available.
Yet the products are called hds (home defence shotgun) hdr (home defence revolver) and the hdp (homes defence pistol) would wording alone then make these “paintball or marker” guns illegal. Or is it still down to the intention of there use?
If “it” is loaded with paintballs would that make there use in a defence situation less likely to get the user in trouble than if they were loaded with uk legal and easily available metal rounds? Obviously one will cause much less damage than the other.
It becomes illegal as soon as you go out with it.
@@ziggarillo - that depends on how it’s carried and where you are going an for what purpose
@@paulcollyer801 - true about them swelling and bursting in the gun yeah. The problem is they don’t hurt enough to stop you. I’ve played quite a bit and yeah it hurts and can break the skin but not enough to stop you. Especially in a small space (house) someone could still get to you with a weapon. As I said you can get all sorts of ammunition for the home defence range.
What about wearing body armour for everyday things? Like ballistic, stab proof or just motorcycle armour, even if you don't have a motorcycle? Like without having a reasonable excuse for wearing it other than to help protect yourself from a random attacker, would it be seen as offensive and that you're somehow looking for a fight?
You can own and wear body armour in the Uk without restriction.
A stab vest is not an offensive weapon - unless you hug someone very hard!
@@Scousestrongmanfan so i can walk around in my level 4 plate carrier around happily? Oddly based britain
No I believe certain levels of body armour are licensed in the uk for security forces only. Police army etc. Stab vests are legal, but I think high level ballistic armour isn’t for “normal” people. Again it can easily be purchased though through army surplus suppliers
@@jacobrackham432 i own ex police ballistic armour its rated up to .357 completely legal to own its also knife and spike rated too.
I was briefly a member of a Saxon battle reenactment group. The one and only battle I fought in, we won, and I not only 'survived' but achieved four or five strikes receiving none in return. II had previously received training at school by a one armed Olympic fencing trainer. Devoted group members held meetings banquets battles and craftsmen offered the considerably skilled services providing beautifully made armoury, shields and weapons et cetera. Others mate their own chain mail by hand with pliers and industrial staples.
I have a monocular on a long cord which is in the side pocket of my rucksack, it’s is solid heavy think thuggees !
If you upset a police person you could be charged unless you could convince cps you were carrying it for a specific reason. Now, habit is no excuse. After all, if they choose, they can arrest you for having a tyre lever in your car.
Its dark and I'm justifiably carrying and using a maglite torch. Will the court be able to say my intentions were to use it in an offensive/defensive manner if I happen to use it to defend myself.
Many years ago, I lived in a less desirable area of a certain city, and in my van, I always had at the side of the drivers seat a 15" monkey wrench. Probably illegal, but could say 'sorry, I just forgot to put it back in the tool box'. Fortunately, I never needed to use it other than what it was designed for
Good video, can we get a similar one regarding "home defense"?
Who cares about what the “law” says regarding home defence??? Anyone comes into my home and I feel my family is threatened, they’re leaving in a bag.
Who cares about what the “law” says regarding home defence??? Anyone comes into my home and I feel my family is threatened, they’re leaving in a bag.
I find it absolutely ridiculous that the public in the uk cannot carry or use pepper spray as a means to defend themselves from an attack. I'm disabled and extremely vulnerable but even people like me cannot carry such an item that is non lethal and can mean the difference between getting away safe or ending up in hospital or worse.
An old Metal Maglite, the big ones full of batteries so it works makes for an excellent cudgel. I was told this by my Brother when he was chief super.
I always thought a Mills bomb or other high power fragmentation grenade was a defensive weapon because you have to throw it from cover.
I always thought my sniper rifle was legal as I can hit someone from over a mile away.
Lol...from my military days any weapon can be used either for offence or defence.
I seem to remember that the UK's nuclear arsenal used to be described as a "Defensive weapon", so does that mean I could keep one in my garden shed to deter burglars? :)
[Warning - Trespassers may be vaporised] :D
@@Reman1975 Along with your shed - and house - and town!
You can still carry a Kubotan when solid. I've had mine taken off of me a few times & quickly returned 😊
A Policeman told me to carry a large maglight torch if I have to investigate a possible night time intruder in and around the home/garage as it's large enough to provide some form of defence and if I DID have to use it in self defence i'd be much less likely to face possible charges as its night time, so clearly a torch would be required on my person in those circumstances.
I have a question: are entirely defensive items prohibited under this act? For example, a bullet-proof vest or a shield? These items may not be considered “weapons” in the sense that it is difficult to cause someone harm with them, but their primary purpose is combative and they may be described as “weaponry” in the broader sense of the word.
Bullet-proof vests, a clearly defensive "weapon", are illegal to wear for normal people in Sweden.
I think a lot of us now are of the opinion, if someone attacks you then it would be the attackers fault for attacking others.
Police can't now police properly and let's face it, it is one's responsibility to protect one's self. There are a lot of laws really that take away people's protection and also subjugate them.
However I recognise that you are explaining the law and not your opinion, I am just placing my thoughts on this. Thank you for your explanation
It terms of self defense items, I always make sure that my wife carries a powerful aluminium torch. With a strap. And fits nicely in a pocket. Any issues, shine it straight into their eyes, dazzle them with the bright light and that can give a few extra seconds to either get away, or prepare to use as a something to lash out with.
6D maglite in the car, spiked ring, axe collection in the bedroom...... then when someone attacks you can grab the nearest thing in the heat of the moment...... none of the items were for self defence, they just happened to be in the perfect place. :D
Slightly off topic but what are the regulations regarding deactivated weapons. I own WW2 MP40 machine pistol which has been deactivated back in 1991 to what’s known as ‘old spec’. I was thinking of selling the MP40 and took it to one of the local military fairs for one of the dealers to make me an offer. It was transported in the hatchback area of the car in a sports bag, so it could not be seen by any members of the public. I was wondering if my vehicle had been stopped by the police for any reason and they decided to searched my vehicle and discovered the weapon, what would they have done? I took with me the deactivation certificate which states the serial number stamped onto the weapon, which proves that it has been correctly deactivated.
If you have the paperwork and a legit reason to transport it you should be fine. I did a little WW2 re-enactment a few years ago and we were stopped on the M1 with about 5 deacs, over a dozen blank fire weapons and a single live fire rifle(legally owned and no live ammo with us). As we had the paperwork for it all we just spent 20-30 mins in a layby showing the coppers tommy guns and brens in the back of a transit van and that was it.
I have a hammer and long handled axe in my boot of the car with some other tools like , nails & a piece or two of small wood. These are for repairing my garden fence. But if needed I could use them in self defence
If you have a push bike you can carry a lock preferably a heavy padlock on a meter of heavy chain, you don't need said bike with you, only need to own one, you absent-mindedly left lock in pocket when left home .
The way I interpreted this is, if your out shopping and someone attacks you anything you use to defend yourself with could be interpreted as an illegal weapon!. Being retired military we were trained to use anything you can lay your hands on, so where would this leave us?
Loving all your videos, thank you....
I Always want to know what is meant but "Traditional Methods" in the sense of reproduction blades for the purpose of re-enactment. In some daggers (eg Basilards) there is some evidence that some where made via stock removal ie take a lump of metal and grind out the shape. This method is often how "zombie knives" are made as its quite a cheap way of making something.
Historically the blades were made this way as the price of some metals became cheaper and the daggers became more decorative than defensive.
"Historical methods" is a nonsense really. Pretty much every method has been used to manufacture weapons in the past. There was even an English boat excavated in ?Bordeaux? that dated back to the Hundred Years War full of iron swords that had been cast! Would probably have shattered on first contact with anything above a baguette though.
I am an old man (70+) and need to walk with a stick. I have made walking sticks for many years. Back in the day I was also a reasonably skilful HEMA swordsman. Oddly enough, all of my walking sticks handle exactly like swords...
Hidden in plain sight huh!? 😉. Let's hope they don't force you (us) to explain your medical need for a cane/ stick.
@@ianhill4585 I need a stick as a result of (documented) injuries sustained during my 30 years as a police officer. I think I've got it covered.
@@ianhill4585 No need if your over 70
My walking sticks have antler handles and I have taken them into the houses of Parliament without challenge.
@@inregionecaecorum I have needed a stick for the past 20 years. It has always amused me that in my days of international travel, I have been actively assisted to carry my steel-shod, fighting weight stick wheresoever I wish, at the same time being divested of sundry tiny nail files, scissors etc. and once - I kid you not - a pair of plastic scissors from an emergency first aid kit.
If you have an ornamental sword - not sharpened at all - (like you in the background), that's fully legal to keep in your home right?
What about a walking stick I can"t walk with out it . If I was attacked I would use it to aid my get away
Technically "defensive weapon" is not what most people understand a "weapon". Historically the terms 'arm' and 'weapon' included armour, a defensive weapon is thus armour, as opposed an offensive weapon because it is used offensively (even if the purpose of that offensive action is overall defensive) whereas armour is defensive because its solely used to defend and cannot cause another offence. Most people wouldn't regard armour as a weapon today but to cover one's basis armour is what would be a defensive weapon. Obviously not what's being talked about here but still.
Can you do a video on Jury nullification
Wasn’t there a case where a balloon seller was done because he said that he never sold the balloons on his left hand to be able to throw them at muggers allowing him to make his escape - even though the balloons thrown in such a manner were incapable of causing harm, only slow a mugger down as he legged it.
You can buy a police/military style riot shield from Amazon. These are clearly to be used for defence, but do they count as a weapon? If I hold a shield between us and you try to hit me with your fists then you will suffer harm, if I push back to cause you to break off your attack then you will suffer harm. Does that make it a weapon?
What about a frying pan as a shield and a cast iron pot to bash ‘em on the head with 🤔😎
I carry a heavy duty pen and diary. A torch and Swiss army knife and a sec 139 legal pen knife. sometimes a pouch with a 1st aid kit etc.
There are loopholes potentially , however UK law is anti decent person in my opinion, the law favourably helps the greater bad.
I am no lawyer but I cant help but think UK law needs a rework to favour the innocent and greater clarity.
I respect law but often find UK law favours the potential criminal .
Wishing for the day I can have a shotgun under my coat as a self defence weapon
So the point is , any weapon that can be legally carried will be carried legally by people with criminal intent, there would be no way of stopping them until they committed an offense. So it is an offense to go equipt for violence
@@ziggarillo carrying a pen for writing is not an offence. Carrying a pen knife for cutting string etc is not an offence if under 3 inch and non locking.
UK laws not for your benefit!
@@ziggarillo really? So nobody lawfully got into a car and intentionally ran someone over?
I get the initial prong of your argument but upon analysis it doesn't hold up ! You assuming any right of Cary just a free for all for one!
what about the UMAREX T4E HDR 50 REVOLVER (HOME DEFENSE)
As someone that is adept in Akido. If said attacker came at me with a bladed weapon, and I manipulated him in such a way that he caused severe injury to himself.... and when the police arrived, he still had hold of the said bladed weapon, sticking in his own leg. How would that play out in court? what defence could one use, if the said attacker said that he was attacked by me, and I grabbed him as he was in the process of removing the knife from his leg? Just askin' for a friend....
Reckon you’d be fine, you wouldn’t be in possession of the knife, he would. Bit like someone trying to hit you with a badly maintained axe, the head comes off at the top of their swing and lands on their noggin...no-ones going to take them seriously if they try to argue that it was your fault because if they didn’t feel a need to hit you then they wouldn’t have 2lbs of steel imbedded in their skull... You might be going a bit far if you tried to claim a hernia from laughing so hard as an aggravating feature though...😉
The police might ask why someone who is adept at Akido could not have disarmed the attacker or twisted his arm behind his back and arrested him. This is a question that 'your friend' needs to have discussed with their solicitor before deciding what to tell the police about how how the attacker became injured. In reality, the police and CPS understand that in a fight there really is no telling what the outcome will be, it is just chance whether the weapons ends up in your leg or the attacker's leg. In true self-defence situations there can be no time to evaluate risk; there is just the immediate need to protect oneself, so one does so, without thought of the consequences or risks. The police and CPS take this into account.
@@tlangdon12, I agree. Having a bit of background in this area, the memorable phrase which springs to mind is that “In the agony of the moment, one cannot be expected to weight matters to a nicety”...or, in more prosaic language ‘If shit goes south, sometimes shit happens’.
You weren't listening, daft question
@@tlangdon12 No one, that is actually NO ONE, is adept at disarming and assailant with a knife.
I gave a statement where I had been in a situation where I used my walking aid as a “shield” to deter an attacker.
just use any normal item you happen to have with you at the time, anything can be a weapon if needed, a vape ( if you smoke) , a torch ( walking the dog in the dark), your mobile phone, your stilettoes ladies ( and gents) , or the wall you happen to be passing when attacked . Don't use keys like woman self defense seem to love as its lousy and unlikely to work.
Can you discuss, why or how the establishment believe they can protect the general population from criminal acts of robbery or injury.
The serving on duty police officers have batons, tasers and body armour to defend themselves.
Incidentally, in some countries, not the UK, even certain grades of body armour are restricted.
"For the purposes of the act". There it is.
Intent ,is a big thing. Many things can be used as a weapon, but are," items or tools", as soon as you say it's for self defence you are cooked! It's up to the law to prove your illegal carrying of the item, you can use a rolled up newspaper for example as a club,but it's not illegal to carry one .But it could ward off a mugger.So , entertainment or defence / offense?
Like the baguettes in reduce sections of supermarket.
I believe a Quarterstaff is allowed under Magna Carta, for all classes.
You believe incorrectly.
If you use something "to hand" to defend yourself then in that instant you have an offensive weapon "with" you. The law gives no expemption under any circumstance, not self-defence, NOTHING.
If you cannot have an item to defend yourself before you face a specific threat then nothing changes when the intent only appears against a specific threat.
Either self-defense is a "reasonable excuse" or it isn't, because it's totally unreasonable to attempt to make or adapt a defensive weapon in the instant you are attacked.
Would one of those devices which give out a high frequency sound inaudible to adults but painful to young people amount to an offensive weapon, do you think?
I ask because I have come across an example of one that caused such pain to a teenager who was simply walking on the pavement past a garden with one in.
Pretty sure those are illegal.
So, basically, in the UK, you're not allowed to defend yourself?
Excellent video. thanks. On subject of curved swords - so it's the method/style of manufacture that has to date before 1954 & not the actual sword ?
An old South American style is a wooden sword with stone chips in the edge.
"so it's the method/style of manufacture that has to date before 1954 & not the actual sword ?"
That's right.
@@PMA65537 That dates back to the stone age & across many regions.
So I'f a defensive weapon or a normal item was kept in the house for the use of defence would that still be illegal, ie a baseball near the front door.
The point is it's not for defence, you are an avid baseball player
No, the offensive weapons law is about public places. It's not necessarily illegal to have a weapon at home.
Would it be applicable to refer to a potential "defensive weapon" as a "defensive tool" instead?
e.g. I carried my overly large walking stick as a deterrant from being harrassed or attacked.
i.e. The intent is not to injure the other party, the intent is to deter the other party from causing an altercation to begin with, therefore technically giving another purpose to the tool than to cause harm?
All weapons are offensive weapons, the decision to carry it as a weapon makes it offensive. Defensive is an item that was to hand that you had not previously considered could be used as a weapon until your life was endagered. If you put it somewhere deliberately "in case" you needed it in a fight you're guilty.
Your only allowed to use every day things you carry... Like keys or a phone, in extreme case where someone is coming at you with a weapon if there a house brick close by hand then I'd say you could pick it up and us it.
I think it's all about responding with the same force that's coming at you.
If I regularly go for overnight walks, and I've decided that my brittle bone disease means that I cannot safely block hand/foot blows because my forearm bones might well break...then, I get children's shin guards stitched between the main fabric and the lining of my jacket sleeves, so that my bones are no longer in danger of breaking because they have a pure defensive item stopping that from happening...am I breaking the law, by going out with that jacket (or those jackets) on? Food for thought! The only use they have, in those jacket sleeves, is to DEFEND: they have no offensive application possible with them...would my going out, in those jackets, be legally safe to do?
Amazon sells thousands of these so-called defence items. They need to clean up and stick to their policies.
I've seen these items turn up in schools.
Well this is news to me, I'll leave my bren gun at home from now on ☹️
I have farb spray, haven’t used it yet. Just wondering if i need to a give a warning to an attacker or use it as a preemptive strike if a would be attacker swings at me
Please tell my crack headed, junkie neighbours.
I wish pepper spay was legal and available here in Spain.
I would suggest if your intention is that the spray doesn’t cause harm, but marks the individual for the police to identify them. No different to the spray used in money vans.
@@Britishshadow its uk safe
A firmly gripped Clipper style lighter is a potentially useful tool. If required to punch, or strike.
P.S. as some one with a bad knee, when I go walking, I always use a cane. And back in the late 1700's through the 1800's, Gentlemen took a cane with them, not just for walking, but thrashing the odd evil doer. So is this a illegal thing for me to use in England? Of course I'd use my cane to defend myself, if it came to that.
What about if you carry a shield or something else defensive? I realise you could still hurt someone by heating them with a shield but the main purpose of a shield is defence not offence so surly it would be hard for prosecution to prove you intended to use it for harm? Its a crap world were criminals can attack you with anything they like but you can' defend yourself with a pencil for fear of getting done.
Very interesting video, love all your stuff. I was stopped at a knife arch a couple of years ago. All my metal went in the tray and at that point it occurred to me my house keys were basically a weapon. 4x Yale, 2x mortice, a bike lock and a couple of padlock keys. All on a climbing carabineer. Should I slim this down to just the 3* I need to enter my dwelling or carry on? I do like to be able to open all doors to my property but they would cause harm if swung at an attacker. As you say a bottle is an innocent item until broken. I guess they are a tool until used offensively and then it would depend on circumstances and a cases merits.
A Clipper lighter is a potential weapon, even without the element of fire.
Only illegal if you are carrying them to use as to defend yourself with. NB you can still use them to defend yourself.
I use the size of my key ring to keep an eye on how complicated my life is. I have actively seperated off bunches of keys that I only need on certain occasions from my main keyring.
@@tlangdon12 sound advice. I seem to be the one responsible for gaining access to the property for all eventualities plus work and cycle locks.
Oh yeah, forgot about all the keys I have on a S carabiner.
what about a shield, like a literal round shield, would that be legal as its not even technically a "weapon" and was created for the purpose of self protection
A thought provoking and useful video. Thanks BBB. I have commented on a comment below that I think that a defence of self-defence stands even if the defendant was using a prohibited weapon. e.g. If Tony Martin had fired a few feet behind Fred Barras and a freak ricochet had caused the fatal injury, it is likely that his defence of self-defence would resulted in a Not Guilty verdict even though the shot was fired from a weapon that Tony Martin did not have a licence for. Do you agree that if I have a prohibited knife and I use it to defend myself in a wholly valid situation I have a valid 'self-defence' defence against a charge of wounding, but cannot defend myself against a charge for possession of the knife?
I just bought a multi-tool from LIDL, and to my surprise the knife on it, when unfolded, locks into place. Presumably that makes it illegal to carry in the UK?
I've never had that with a multi-tool before!
Sadly, yes. I learned this a little while back...and I have a background in this area. However, consider reasonable excuse; if you’re out on your mountain bike, out camping, fishing, in the woods doing bushcraft etc, then you should be fine just be careful with what you say about the item.
@@sleepingwarrior4618, agreed! Watch what you say (sorry, but unfortunately it’s true). If you have a good reason for having it on you, no-one’s likely to notice until you’re using it and, if it’s in context, no-one is likely to worry... Best defence, don’t come to the attention of the Police!
@@paulcollyer801 I had a pretend copper who half knew a law stop me.
Im a mobile car detailer.
I was using a window scraper with a stanley blade in the end to remove a car window sticker..
Pretend copper starts to flex and calls for help from the bully gang saying it was brandishing a fixed bladed weapon..
Fortunately my customer (a lawyer) saw what was happening when the 3rd rozzer turned up she jumped in and schooled them.
They prodded their trotters at their phones for a while and buggered off. No apology or anything.
Needless to say... This and the few other interactions ive had with the cops. I have little respect for the cops now.
Yes
It's illegal to carry any kind of locking knife in the UK without a good reason. A good reason needs to be specific to the time at which you're carrying it. For example, a chef can't just carry chef's knives because he's a chef -- he has to be, e.g., on his way to or from work. "It's on my multi-tool and my multi-tool is a generally useful thing to have around" isn't going to count as a good reason. A good reason would be something along the lines of "It's on my multi-tool and I'm on my way to this thing for which I specifically need the tool." Best leave the multi-tool at home: it's not illegal to possess, just to carry in a public place.
I'm quite safe overnight in my motorhome. Kitchen full of knives and a 3 ft breaker bar to remove wheel nuts. All quite handy in case of an intruder :)
Er, didn't you mean to say your hand might accidently fall on one of those items and in the heat of the moment used to defend yourself if you were in fear for your life and was never left by the door as a weapon for self defence but by sheer good fortune happened to be there after you had checked your wheel nuts and not got around to stowing it safely away in the tool kit?
Oops. Ur nicked, son.
So, coming back to the pocket knife: I consider this "standard equipment" in my purse. I mainly need it to butter bread or cut cheese or fruit when I'm out of the house and decide on a rustic snack, and use it almost exclusively for that purpose. The thought of using it for defence has genuinely never entered my mind. However, since it is one of the more versatile/better equipped and therefore bigger models of Swiss Army knives, it does have a blade lock to make it safe to use. Is it illegal to have this e.g. in my hiking backpack? Also, what about walking into a homeware store and buying a large vegetable knife because you need a new one? Is it illegal to carry it home?!
The Swiss Army knife will be illegal to carry on the streets if it has a locking blade (what ever size) but if you can prove you were camping then it could be ok. For example, if you went out clubbing/pubs on a Saturday night and take a Swiss army knife with you then that could be seen as illegal if you are searched by Police. If you are searched at Glastonbury then you could say you’re camping. Buying a large vegetable knife and carrying it home, it should be sealed up, in a bag. No problem if you can show the receipt to prove where you bought it and you can demonstrate you were taking it home. But again, if you are out in pubs at night with a kitchen knife in a bag, you have no chance…….
What about shields? A shield is not designed to injure people but prevent injury. But it clearly can be used to injure people. As I understand it in the uk body armour is legal. Are shields? If some one goes about carrying a riot shield just in case they get attacked does the fact they prepared for combat by carrying something who’s use in combat is not to cause injury make them guilty of carrying an offensive weapon if it has the potential to be used in combat to cause injury?
How about carrying a can of ‘MACE’ spray ?
In 1989 the F1 Driver Bertrand Gachot was sentenced to 18 months in prison because he sprayed a Taxi driver with Mace when they got into a road rage argument and then a fight.
His attitude [including his lawyer] said that the Taxi driver attacked him and he used the Mace to defend himself [in his home country of France Mace was legal to carry for that purpose at the time so this is why he was carrying it].
The judge took the view that the Can of Mace was an offensive weapon and gave him 18 months.
[this was when Michael Schumacher unexpectedly got his 1st ever drive in F1 because no one expected Bertrand to get prison sentence]
Being disabled with a broken back and badly smashed up pelvis, courtesy of an IRA bomb, I use crutches to walk with. I'm facing prosecution for gbh because I used my crutches to disarm an attacker, who had pulled a knife on me and lay him out unconscious on the ground with them. I'm being charged with use of unreasonable force against the assailant despite the fact he was trying to stab me with the knife. I've made no other statement except I acted in defence of myself. However, the police are saying that it wasn't self defence because the way I defended myself ewith my crutches demonstrated that I knew how to use them as weapons. So where do I stand. I have several witnesses who have stated that I was attacked by the other person who was shouting that he was going to kill me. Where do I stand?
Traffic stop: No officer, 'I have a very sharp axe in the boot of my car, for the purpose of chopping wood up for my log burner, on private land of which I own!' 'It is an offensive weapon sir!' 'No officer, the purpose of that axe is only for chopping up wood, for my log burner, on private land of which I own!; never has it come into my mind, to have the intention of using such a tool, as a weapon offensively, or defensively!' This has happened to me, on more than one occasion and I was sent on my way! Know the law, and do not allow any key stone cop to manipulate what you say! Do not deviate from a straight forward statement.
Would you show us the Katanas you own, please?
On the point of mispeaking, under stress, heat of the moment or otherwise, is there any provisions or precedent or acknowledgement within the legal system for people to change their mind or rationale without prejudice? I assume typically if you change your statement at a later date its viewed skeptically. But is the fact that people often can be confused or mistaken and need time to gather their thoughts well understood by judges and jurys?
Anyother perfect example of why everyone should train some martial arts - if absolutley no defensive tools are allowed for the purpose of defending yourself then thats your only recourse. Would this included say anyone wearing an anti stabb vest as that could be considered for self defence or is clothing allowed? Its my understanding that a rape alarm is the only legal defensive tool.
What about things like sgian dubh? They are obviously a knife and historically have a self defence role. Do they come under the cateegory of antique enev if they are brand new or is there another definition for "costume" articles?
A sgian dubh is fine to carry assuming it is part of national dress. If not it will likely be treated as any other fixed blade knife and therefore illegal to carry.
I take it that is also the same for home defense aswell...
No, houses are full of everyday and necessary objects that could fall to hand readily and legally.
Another good video thanks
I've noticed quite a lot of laws say "him" would a woman who goes by "her" be able to wiggle out of the law due to the terminology used?
You can wiggle all you want, but the law applies to all genders.
@@bobadams7654 I understand laws are applicable to everyone no matter the gender, sexuality ethnicity ect. But I'm wondering if anyone has ever got out of prosecution because the law stated him and it was a her.
No law say him, they are all very careful not to be gender specific, you have obviously never read one.
No, unless the law explicitly says that it doesn't apply to women the courts will read "him" as referring to anyone.
Please could you do an episode on the following:
I carry a legal EDC knife. The blade length is under 3 inches and its non locking. If I got into a situation where I had to use it to defend myself (someone pulled a weapon on me, or threatened my life etc) how would the court handle this? Would it be an offensive weapon, or a legal every day carry item that I resorted to using in self defence but not carried for this purpose?
@@paulcollyer801 no requirement to retreat ! "when a violent felony is committed against a man he can meet force with force and even kill the aggrossor" r vs Chisam 1963 (capital murder)
@@paulcollyer801 just because you want to be a victum dont force that on everyone else ! the law is very clear there is NO duty to retreat and one can meet for force with force including lethal force if it reasonable in the circumstances . since 2008 its harder for the DPP to get an bill of indictment in such cases
What about things like pepper spray? That is clearly used for self defence and is very handy for women. Does this count as a weapon?
Answered on #BlackBeltSecrets !
ua-cam.com/video/s4j0nUK-sSk/v-deo.html
@@BlackBeltBarrister thank you 😊👌
What about a riot shield?