Sgian Dubh--Part 2

[David Dalglish]

I sent an e-mail to the local POLICE NATIONAL LEGAL DATABASE.it is---

While I want Knives & other weapons off the streets as much as anyone, I am a Scotsman who wears his kilt on a daily basis. What is the law relating to wearing the sgian dubh as part of our national dress, as it is mostly cerimonial to wear it.

The reply was, & I quote

S139 Criminal Justice Act 1988 makes it an offence to be in possession of a bladed or pointed article in a public place. There are defences to this offence, one of which is if the article is part of a national costume. This would not be the same as if you wear the kilt in Scotland, as they have different laws

Please note:

PNLD does not have the resources to research every e-mail in depth. This reply is intended as a guide only. The advice you are given is based on the information provided. You are advised to seek professional advice before any further action is taken,see Terns & Conditions for further information

ps, I live in Carlisle, England

What do you think, is it legal to wear your Sgian Dubh

[switchblade5984]

sounds okay to me.....

There are defences to this offence, one of which is if the article is part of a national costume

[Panache]

David,

When they wrote "You are advised to seek professional advice" I would have been mighty tempted to write back "Who would be more professional about this subject than you?"

Cheers

[Mike1]

Guys, are we really heading down this path again? This topic is a pitfall, as we all know what is legal in one area is not legal in another. Which doesn't address the massive amounts of speculative baggage this topics always drags in with it.

Case in point - Switchblade is claiming that this law cannot be upheld, because of it being part of a national costume. And that was me, thinking that Switchblade was a marine engineer.

Let's leave this one up to the legal beagles, OK? X Marks is not here to offer psychological, medical or legal counseling.

Thread locked.