QUOTE (Richard Garvie @ Nov 12 2011, 03:31 PM)
I just think if there was a possession law, even if it was certain knives covered, people would not carry them. I don't believe most offenders head out with the intention to stab someone, it happens in the heat of the moment and they have the knife on them. No knife = no stabbing.
I can see the logic, but it's the same logic the americans use for guns. If the US introduced our gun laws, gun crime in the states would drop dramatically.
There is already a possession law. Criminal Justice Act 1988 Section 139 makes it a criminal offence to have with you in a public place any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed except a folding (non-locking) pocketknife with a blade less than 3" long, though it is a defence to show that you had a good reason or lawful authority to have the thing, such as for work.
However, Section 1 Prevention of Crime Act 1953 also creates an offence of carrying an offensive weapon so even having a small folding pocket knife, if used or threatened as an offensive weapon, is already a criminal offense.
Other than pandering to the moral panic, any further criminalisation of knives per se is just creating trouble because it catches myriad legitimate reasons for carrying - would you criminalise pint glasses and beer bottles, because they're more effective improvised weapons than a folding 3" penknife.