Weapon Laws (UK)

[Handsup!]

Having had a look around, it seems the ownership of extendable batons in the UK is illegal;

But surely i have the right to own one in the home-the same way i would a pen knife. I'm interested in purchasing one (As a collector's weapon) but i'm unsure.

[999madtom]

Yeah. It probaly is not illegal as my grandparents have an old police trunction by their bed. As long as you don't take it out or the police could not try to charge with holding a weapon you can't get arrested.

[met police999]

it seems they are illegal to own or sell but the old truncheons seem to not be covered on that but if you catch with one of them in public you can be arrested with possession of an offensive weapon

[Wkboy714]

 

Section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 prohibits the possession in any public place of an offensive weapon without lawful authority or excuse.

The clearly defined thing here is "public place". Keeping one in your house is unlikely to be recovered by the police (unless they have some reason to be there and searching). Obviously, any weapon designed (or adapted) for causing injury is classed as an offensive weapon and not allowed in any public place, with a few exceptions. Though a knife is an offensive weapon, it is (obviously) legal to have them at home (ie private areas), but not in public - I imagine a baton would fall under similar legislation given it is also classed as an offensive weapon.

 

Of couse, firearms are a whole different story. It seems likely you'd be allowed a baton as long as it's kept within the home (and never used!) but of course I'm not completely certain on that - there may be different laws protecting police issue/specialist weapons, etc. I suppose there's no harm in asking your local police force.

[Guest]

I think u might need a liasance not sure tho

[Handsup!]

Cheers guys. I thought so (Regarding Wkboy714's post); i would just like one for general ownership and a form of self defence if the burglars ever find my room (Which has over £1000 worth of things inside it...)!

[squamishfire]

I think u might need a liasance not sure tho

 

Your close.... you actually need to take a course on it... Most companies will not sell you one unless you take a course and that it is intended for your approved jobs.  It is extermly difficult for Security Guards, like myself, to actually be able to get one.  Even with a course I would actually have to purchase it under my companies name and once when it came in it would have to stay at the job site only and be locked up while I am not on duty.

 

Besides... why do you want a baton Handsup when a base ball bat works just as good?

 

Edit- oh on that note make sure it is wooden and not steel... There is something about steel bats, but with wooden if you were to "use" it, apparently it is harder to get yourself charged or something like that.  (BLW this is confirmed from a police chief I used to know.)

[Handsup!]

Your close.... you actually need to take a course on it... Most companies will not sell you one unless you take a course and that it is intended for your approved jobs. It is extermly difficult for Security Guards, like myself, to actually be able to get one. Even with a course I would actually have to purchase it under my companies name and once when it came in it would have to stay at the job site only and be locked up while I am not on duty.

Besides... why do you want a baton Handsup when a base ball bat works just as good?

Edit- oh on that note make sure it is wooden and not steel... There is something about steel bats, but with wooden if you were to "use" it, apparently it is harder to get yourself charged or something like that. (BLW this is confirmed from a police chief I used to know.)

Batons work as a completely non lethal form of intimidation. Plus... I think they're nice to have anyway. It's standard issue to police.

That *flick* and the brandishing of baton is extremely scary and works as a deterrent.

[theocd]

Whoever sold it to you would be committing an offence and if you bought it abroad and brought it back you would be committing an offence - all of these under the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Unlike a pen-knife, there is no legitimate, alternate use for an expandable baton other than causing harm. Certain fixed weapons such as tonfas can be legitimate due to their use in Martial Arts and self-defence training. In addition, the chance of you being in when them darn burglars come-a-knocking is pathetically small. You're better off buying some pretty impressive locks before they steal your £1000 bedroom and your shiny baton

EDIT: In this respect they are very much like a small amount of Cannabis, you cannot have it sold to you, lent to you, given to you, you can't find it or import but if one was found in your private possession not in a public place you wouldn't be charged.

 

The OC-D

[Fred03]

Wow, the UK has very restrictive weapons laws apparently.

[met police999]

wait till you see our Firearm laws haha

[Fred03]

Oh I know, you all are so safe and civilized across the pond.

[Handsup!]

Wait till you see our alcohol laws.

 

Oh wait... you can drink at age five.

[Fred03]

Sorry guys, I only speak FREEDOM!

[Handsup!]

Whoever sold it to you would be committing an offence and if you bought it abroad and brought it back you would be committing an offence - all of these under the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Unlike a pen-knife, there is no legitimate, alternate use for an expandable baton other than causing harm. Certain fixed weapons such as tonfas can be legitimate due to their use in Martial Arts and self-defence training. In addition, the chance of you being in when them darn burglars come-a-knocking is pathetically small. You're better off buying some pretty impressive locks before they steal your £1000 bedroom and your shiny baton

EDIT: In this respect they are very much like a small amount of Cannabis, you cannot have it sold to you, lent to you, given to you, you can't find it or import but if one was found in your private possession not in a public place you wouldn't be charged.

 

The OC-D

 

What about security firms?

[theocd]

Firstly, your comment about alcohol is an exaggeration, you are allowed to let children try alcohol from the age of 5 in your care as the right of a parent to educate, if you let them consume excessively or for leisure then you can be charged with negligence. Furthermore, purchasing alcohol for under 18's is a criminal offence unless in the circumstances dictated.

It is illegal for Security Guards to do 'Armed Guarding' or 'Guarding with a weapon' in the UK. There was a case a little while back where a guard was questioned, possibly cautioned, for having one of those slabs of metals with a handle with a tiny torch in its grip.

As for gun laws, you can own almost anything in this country with the right licence, it's proof of purpose that's the bugger. For example, the Historic Breach-Loading Small Arms Association has members with machine guns such as Sten, Uzi, Lewis and Vickers among others.

As for us being safe and civil, that's something for you to believe and the violent crime statistics to prove otherwise

 

The OC-D

[met police999]

arnt handguns illegal except to uniformed personnel ie: police and armed forces

[Handsup!]

arnt handguns illegal except to uniformed personnel ie: police and armed forces

 

I believe so; depends if it has a firing pin.

[theocd]

For ownership of handguns you need to look at Section 7(3) of the Firearms Act 1997. I won't go into the details here but as with the Machine Guns noted above it is *theoretically* possible to own handguns in this country. Being a police officer or soldier does not give you the automatic right neither are they the only services in the country to deploy units with handguns - for example the National Crime Agency has Authorised Firearms Officers but they are civil servants who operate under certain parameters. Again, you can look that up in your own time

EDIT: If its a live weapon it has a firing pin. Deactivated ones, depending on their Specification (e.g. Pre-1995) will have different states of Firing Pin either lathed or missing.

 

The OC-D