Knife Law?

[Jayd 0]

Hi all,

 

I've searched, and can't find anything about this. So apologies if I've missed it somewhere, or I'm overlooking the blatently obvious.

 

What I'm curious about is, when me and a mate go out with the ferrets. Now, I know it's good practise to gut the rabbit on site, but I'm wondering, if I get caught by the authorities, and get caught with a knife, what is likely to happen? I've not bought a knife just yet, but I'm looking for one, a folding one, with a gut hook on, and I'm wondering if I say what it's for, what will come of it?

 

Thanks.

[john b 38]

Here you go - all you need to know

 

http://www.basc.org.uk/content/knives__advice_and_guidan

[riohog 5,939]

providing youhave agood reason for the knife and you are persuing legal activetes there shouldnt be aproplem

[Jayd 0]

Thanks for the replies. I've just read through that, but I'm still unsure on where I stand. For example, if I'm on "public" land, and carrying a knife with a guthook, with the ferrets, does that mean I'm likely to get done? And would that mean, I can't let the ferrets go on public land (down warrens etc.) and take rabbits? From what I can tell, it's not classed as poaching as they're classed as vermin?

 

Thanks.

[Sterry 0]

I've spoken to my sisters boyfriend whos a policeman, as i was worried about gettin caught with a perfectly legitamate tool. He said that the limit is 3" (thats the blade) and thats perfect for rabbits. he explained that as long as you have a "good reason" to posess a knife any policemen should be understanding to yours cause. but i imagine some coppers are not reasonable so ffor this reason i like to carry my SGC,BASC insurance details, and permission to hunt/shoot letters, in this case there could be no questions about my motive of carrying a knife.

[Jayd 0]

I've spoken to my sisters boyfriend whos a policeman, as i was worried about gettin caught with a perfectly legitamate tool. He said that the limit is 3" (thats the blade) and thats perfect for rabbits. he explained that as long as you have a "good reason" to posess a knife any policemen should be understanding to yours cause. but i imagine some coppers are not reasonable so ffor this reason i like to carry my SGC,BASC insurance details, and permission to hunt/shoot letters, in this case there could be no questions about my motive of carrying a knife.

 

Thanks. I'll just have to make sure I find a knife with 3" or less blade. I'm short of insurance though. And the permission letters. If I have no permission, should I leave the knife at home?

[john b 38]

Thanks for the replies. I've just read through that, but I'm still unsure on where I stand.

 

Really ? I thought it was pretty explicit

 

Good reason for carrying a knife may be shown by occupation as a farmer, estate manager, recreational stalker, gameshooter, angler or anyone else who has reasonable grounds for expecting to need a knife whilst pursuing a lawful activity.

Carrying a knife in public must be in connection with the activity for which it is needed; going into a shop with a knife in your pocket if you are returning from or going to a place where you farm, fish or shoot etc. would constitute good reason

[riohog 5,939]

I've spoken to my sisters boyfriend whos a policeman, as i was worried about gettin caught with a perfectly legitamate tool. He said that the limit is 3" (thats the blade) and thats perfect for rabbits. he explained that as long as you have a "good reason" to posess a knife any policemen should be understanding to yours cause. but i imagine some coppers are not reasonable so ffor this reason i like to carry my SGC,BASC insurance details, and permission to hunt/shoot letters, in this case there could be no questions about my motive of carrying a knife.

 

Thanks. I'll just have to make sure I find a knife with 3" or less blade. I'm short of insurance though. And the permission letters. If I have no permission, should I leave the knife at home?

 

 

that would be the safest thing to do mate good luck

[Jayd 0]

Thanks for the replies. I've just read through that, but I'm still unsure on where I stand.

 

Really ? I thought it was pretty explicit

 

Good reason for carrying a knife may be shown by occupation as a farmer, estate manager, recreational stalker, gameshooter, angler or anyone else who has reasonable grounds for expecting to need a knife whilst pursuing a lawful activity.

Carrying a knife in public must be in connection with the activity for which it is needed; going into a shop with a knife in your pocket if you are returning from or going to a place where you farm, fish or shoot etc. would constitute good reason

 

I got that bit. But, by "Lawful activity" does that mean I have to be on permitted land, or can I carry it on public land if I'm using ferrets there?

 

EDIT> On the subject of knives, how stringent are they on the size of blade? Just a lot of knifes I look at with the guthook on are 4".

 

Thanks.

Edited December 9, 2008 by Jayd

[john b 38]

I got that bit. But, by "Lawful activity" does that mean I have to be on permitted land, or can I carry it on public land if I'm using ferrets there?

 

My interpretation is that if you're on private land you need permission. If you're on public land I have to admit I'm not completely sure. I don't know what rights exist for ferreting on public land

[riohog 5,939]

I got that bit. But, by "Lawful activity" does that mean I have to be on permitted land, or can I carry it on public land if I'm using ferrets there?

 

My interpretation is that if you're on private land you need permission. If you're on public land I have to admit I'm not completely sure. I don't know what rights exist for ferreting on public land

 

 

puplic land is owned local authority tha crown perhaps permission is needed or you are tacking without consent

[ianrob 2]

Thanks for the replies. I've just read through that, but I'm still unsure on where I stand.

 

Really ? I thought it was pretty explicit

 

Good reason for carrying a knife may be shown by occupation as a farmer, estate manager, recreational stalker, gameshooter, angler or anyone else who has reasonable grounds for expecting to need a knife whilst pursuing a lawful activity.

Carrying a knife in public must be in connection with the activity for which it is needed; going into a shop with a knife in your pocket if you are returning from or going to a place where you farm, fish or shoot etc. would constitute good reason

 

I got that bit. But, by "Lawful activity" does that mean I have to be on permitted land, or can I carry it on public land if I'm using ferrets there?

 

EDIT> On the subject of knives, how stringent are they on the size of blade? Just a lot of knifes I look at with the guthook on are 4".

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

As far as I can make out, the 3" thing means such a knife is exempt from all the silly carry on. You could legally carry a knife with a 4 or 5" blade or whatever, if you were using it as part of a legal activity. I find most cops will be reasonable. If you are holding a sandvic saw, and you are sawing wood, you'll be ok, take the saw to a night club, and you're in the sh1t. Having a knife for gutting rabbits whilst ferreting or a machete while pigeon shooting for hidemaking purposes, should be viewed as a reasonable excuse by all but the most idiotic cops, unless they're rubbed up the wrong way, then they're as awkward as the rest of us.

[Matt 160]

From what I can tell, it's not classed as poaching as they're classed as vermin?

 

Very, very wrong.

 

The fact that a species is classed as a pest does not entitle anyone to take them without the consent of the landowner.

 

You should always carry a copy of your written permission when you go ferreting and then you are fully legal. If you got stopped with a knife, the onus is on you to prove that you were carrying out legal activities. Taking rabbits without the consent of the landowner would be an illegal activity.

 

One more note on the subject of blade length; I understand that if the blade locks (that includes opinels) it makes no difference how long the blade is; i.e. you would have to be able to prove you had a lawful reason for carrying the knife.