Hidden knife fine - Portugal - likely outcome?
Discussion
Had an incident yesterday, wonder if anyone can give me any idea of likely punishment - mocking and VBRJ references expected.
I flew from Madeira to the UK last night. I got stopped at security in Madeira, in my wallet was a credit card multi tool type thing, with a small (20mm) sharpened edge, although it's only about as sharp as a tooth. Perfectly legal here, it's been in there for years and has flown with me to India, America, everywhere, no problem. The Portuguese police were called (machine guns and everything) and I was carted off to an interview room. Apparently these tools are illegal in Portugal, and as it is "disguised" as a credit card, it is a class A offensive weapon, considered the same as a gun. (at this point my bum was puckering).
They confiscated it, made me sign a load of paperwork in Portuguese, and then let me go. The paperwork mentions court but via the broken English of the police and my half remembered Spanish it appears I should get a fine in the post. They have copies of all my docs, fingerprints, parents address etc.
Any idea what sort of fine to expect?
And is it something I have to declare on things like job interviews? Last thing I want is a stupid 3 quid multitool to give me a firearms conviction.
I flew from Madeira to the UK last night. I got stopped at security in Madeira, in my wallet was a credit card multi tool type thing, with a small (20mm) sharpened edge, although it's only about as sharp as a tooth. Perfectly legal here, it's been in there for years and has flown with me to India, America, everywhere, no problem. The Portuguese police were called (machine guns and everything) and I was carted off to an interview room. Apparently these tools are illegal in Portugal, and as it is "disguised" as a credit card, it is a class A offensive weapon, considered the same as a gun. (at this point my bum was puckering).
They confiscated it, made me sign a load of paperwork in Portuguese, and then let me go. The paperwork mentions court but via the broken English of the police and my half remembered Spanish it appears I should get a fine in the post. They have copies of all my docs, fingerprints, parents address etc.
Any idea what sort of fine to expect?
And is it something I have to declare on things like job interviews? Last thing I want is a stupid 3 quid multitool to give me a firearms conviction.
I hope I never hear anything more about it. And I genuinely don't think they're in any way prohibited here. Openly sold, not some sort of Walt survivalist s
t but a little thing in case you need a little screwdriver or something to open a plastic packet.
But yeah. Be super cautious, just in case.
t but a little thing in case you need a little screwdriver or something to open a plastic packet. But yeah. Be super cautious, just in case.
Tom1312 said:
My mistake!
When I searched I got something very different.
Is a prohibited weapon in the UK as its technically disguised.
What the other user has posted would be absolutely fine here.
As I said, I doubt you'll ever hear anything about it again.
That looks... Interesting. Very flimsy though, no? When I searched I got something very different.
Is a prohibited weapon in the UK as its technically disguised.
What the other user has posted would be absolutely fine here.
As I said, I doubt you'll ever hear anything about it again.
'Prohibited weapon' is a phrase used in firearms legislation.
'Offensive weapon' / 'bladed or pointed article' are the ones used for this type of thing.
The 'bladed article' legalisation is very wide and the above tools fit within it: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapo...
A folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less is legal.
'Offensive weapon' / 'bladed or pointed article' are the ones used for this type of thing.
The 'bladed article' legalisation is very wide and the above tools fit within it: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapo...
A folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less is legal.
Maybe it was the act of "hiding" it in my wallet made it a crime? I tried to explain that it wasn't hidden, or disguised, that it was exactly what it appeared to be, but they just insisted is was a hidden weapon. I didnt want to argue myself in to any more trouble so I just rolled over and signed what they wanted me to sign. One summons type document, one personal information, and one confiscation.
The more I think about it the more annoyed I am I didn't push it a bit, but then I'd have missed my flight etc. Pissed off if I've now got a criminal record.
The more I think about it the more annoyed I am I didn't push it a bit, but then I'd have missed my flight etc. Pissed off if I've now got a criminal record.
spookly said:
La Liga said:
'Prohibited weapon' is a phrase used in firearms legislation.
'Offensive weapon' / 'bladed or pointed article' are the ones used for this type of thing.
The 'bladed article' legalisation is very wide and the above tools fit within it: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapo...
A folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less is legal.
'Legal' probably isn't the best description as whether it is legal to have a particular blade in your possession is entirely dependant on circumstances.'Offensive weapon' / 'bladed or pointed article' are the ones used for this type of thing.
The 'bladed article' legalisation is very wide and the above tools fit within it: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapo...
A folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less is legal.
There are a range of completely banned knives, which cannot be sold or carried. Those could probably described as illegal.
But any other knife could be legal depending on you having a good excuse for having it with you.
Any folding blade which is non-locking and 3inches or less can be freely carried with no restrictions..... although I suspect you could still fall foul of the law with one of these if you had previous form with getting stabby/slashy with someone. A teenager from around these parts was sent down for a while after being caught carrying a 3 inch pen knife, he had previous for stabbing someone and no good excuse for carrying it.
I am talking about a starting point for which that tool fits within and that carrying it in your wallet just because you want to presents some risk of prosecution to the individual.
La Liga said:
'Prohibited weapon' is a phrase used in firearms legislation.
'Offensive weapon' / 'bladed or pointed article' are the ones used for this type of thing.
The 'bladed article' legalisation is very wide and the above tools fit within it: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapo...
A folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less is legal.
If I understand that correctly, then ANY blade is potentially prohibited, no minimum size except for a folding knife? That's a broad scope! 'Offensive weapon' / 'bladed or pointed article' are the ones used for this type of thing.
The 'bladed article' legalisation is very wide and the above tools fit within it: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapo...
A folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less is legal.
OpulentBob said:
La Liga said:
'Prohibited weapon' is a phrase used in firearms legislation.
'Offensive weapon' / 'bladed or pointed article' are the ones used for this type of thing.
The 'bladed article' legalisation is very wide and the above tools fit within it: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapo...
A folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less is legal.
If I understand that correctly, then ANY blade is potentially prohibited, no minimum size except for a folding knife? That's a broad scope! 'Offensive weapon' / 'bladed or pointed article' are the ones used for this type of thing.
The 'bladed article' legalisation is very wide and the above tools fit within it: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offensive_weapo...
A folding pocket knife with a cutting edge of 7.62 cm (3 inches) or less is legal.
Agreed, although as explained earlier this is hardly a knife. It is a square piece of metal with a sharpened (or better described as chamfered) edge along a portion of one side. The "blade" I was stopped with is designed in such a way that it is practically impossible to cause harm with it. It's not stabby or slashy in any way.
ETA also depends what you do for a job. An IT accounts manager (for example) won't have need for one.
ETA also depends what you do for a job. An IT accounts manager (for example) won't have need for one.
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