Comment on Man carrying home his gardening tools arrested by armed police in Manchester

jordanlund@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

• MurrayL@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Yeah, he was treated poorly but the concern is understandable IMO

  You can’t walk around in public with what looks a lot like a combat knife and then act surprised when the police show up.

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  • Zombie@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    But you can be surprised when the police don’t let you go after realising the thing is mostly blunt. What looks like a knife edge on the right hand side of that picture isn’t sharpened like a knife, it’s more like how a spade has a keened edge, because it’s a fancy type of trowel. The saw edge is sharp though, but again, not as sharp as a wood saw.

    Plus, the law allows for the carrying of a knife for a reasonable legitimate purpose. The accused was carrying a basket of vegetables, having just harvested them using the “knife”. It’s a legitimate purpose, and it wasn’t even a knife.

    Add on that it was also sheathed, and we have a clear case of moron cops being heavy handed and abusing the law.

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    • Flax_vert@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      He should have waited for a solicitor in all honesty. He ended up being coerced into accepting the charges by the sound of things. Basically an autistic person being taken advantage of.

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    • LilB0kChoy@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      the law allows for the carrying of a knife for a reasonable legitimate purpose

      My opinion, not from the silos it’s worth little, is that this is all that should be needed.

      “What’s that? What’s it for?” … “Ok, we got a call from a concerned citizen who thought it was a knife. Have a good day!”

      Maybe they could throw in a polite, friendly suggestion that they use a bag to transport their tools but its not like it’s required, if I’m understanding correctly.

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    • jordanlund@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Yeah, it’s for cutting plants and roots.

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  • Flax_vert@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    It’s not illegal if you have good reason (that isn’t a weapon). In this case, it was good reason.

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• someguy3@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Not the kind of trowel I’m used to.

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  • jordanlund@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Oh yeah, it’s way better! The back side is curved for digging and has measurements on it, so if you’re supposed to plant a bulb x inches deep, it’s right there on the tool.

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