Legality of carrying Multitools in public/cars?

[AstonZagato]

There was a bit of debate on the "Your frivolous purchases, stuff you don't need..." thread. about the risk of carrying Leatherman-type multi-tools that have locking blades (many have such things - I know mine does)

I carry one in the car for emergencies. It has a single short blade which locks.


I did a bit of checking and found this:

Govt Website said:

Basic laws on knives

It is illegal to:

• sell a knife of any kind (including cutlery and kitchen knives) to anyone under 18
• carry a knife in public without good reason - unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less, eg a Swiss Army knife
• carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife (the list of banned knives is below)
• use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife, such as a Swiss Army knife)

Lock knives (knives with blades that can be locked when unfolded) are not folding knives, and are illegal to carry in public.

Guidance is here:

https://www.gov.uk/find-out-if-i-can-buy-or-carry-...

There is a partial list of acceptable reasons on the same site:

Govt Website said:

Good reasons for carrying a knife
Examples of good reasons to carry a knife in public can include:

• taking knives you use at work to and from work
• you’re taking knives to a gallery or museum to be exhibited
• the knife is going to be used for theatre, film, television, historical reenactment or religious purposes (eg the kirpan some Sikhs carry)

A court will decide if you’ve got a good reason to carry a knife if you’re charged with carrying it illegally.

Should I take it out of the car?

I vaguely need it as I have a shoot box in the back of the car that is cable-tied in position. To get to the spare wheel, I need to cut the cable ties.

[AstonZagato]

My own view was that it did constitute a remote risk.

However, the likelihood of anything happening is very, very, slim. You'd have to have to following happen:

• be stopped;
• the car searched;
• the policeman to find the multitool;
• the policeman to discover the locking blade;
• the policeman to be an twunt about it;
• the policeman to not believe it is for general maintenance but rather held as a weapon;
• the courts to back him.

A long sequence of events which become increasingly unlikely at each step.

It was really the last few that interest me.

• Assuming that a copper found the blade, does he have discretion (let's assume I've not been an ahole to him)?
• How would the courts look at it?

[AstonZagato]

Richie C said:

Looks pretty black and white to me:

Govt Website said:

Lock knives (knives with blades that can be locked when unfolded) are not folding knives, and are illegal to carry in public.

The advice doesn't list any acceptable reasons for carrying a locking blade as there aren't any!

No, I read that as a derogation of the specific exemption about carrying folding knifes in public.

So, you can ALWAYS carry a Swiss Army type knife (that is clearly exempted) but something that has a locking blade is judged in the same way that other normal knifes are judged - so one would have then prove one had a good reason to carry such a knife (e.g. the "taking knives you use at work to and from work")

It would seem a bit strange to make all locking knives illegal to carry with NO extenuating circumstances but have acceptable reasons to carry other types of knife! So you could carry a machete as a gardener but not a multitool as a mechanic. That would be odd.

Edited by AstonZagato on Friday 3rd January 12:29

[AstonZagato]

BluePurpleRed said:

I think some people sabotage the locking mechanism on Gerbers and the like and then its just a pen knife with pliers attached really?

Any idea how to do that? I don't need mine to lock.

[AstonZagato]

Mk3Spitfire said:

Lock knives are per se an offensive weapon.

I think that may be a little bit strong - is there is a presumption that they are alway offensive? I'd assumed there is an assumption that they could be potentially be used as an offensive weapon. A baseball bat would be in the same quandry - if you have good reason to be carrying one (on your way to a baseball game), it is sports equipment: if not it is an offensive weapon.

Mk3Spitfire said:

it's a bit if a zero tolerance thing at the moment.

This is mainly my worry. Most coppers would ignore a multi-tool tucked in the glove compartment. However, is there no discretion to let it slip as knife crime stats are so high profile?

Edited by AstonZagato on Friday 3rd January 12:40

[AstonZagato]

Is there a difference between carrying it in the boot or in the glovebox? Do they both count as carrying "in public"

[AstonZagato]

Thanks for the replies.

It looks like I thought it would. Probably not an issue but there is a tiny risk.

[AstonZagato]

Iklwa said:

Saying that, I don't trust you OP, not a bit, you seem like the sort who would storm into a bank wielding a multi tool and demanding everyone gets down, and the teller to hand over the money. Sounds to me like you're planning a big job and want to get your legal facts right in case you get stopped in the getaway vehicle with your cable tied box full of loot.

[Big Vern]

Oi, matey, keep schtum and there a nice tickle in this for all of us.
No farkin' copper is gonna take me alive.
[/Big Vern]