Article 15 Of The Offensive Weapons Bill

[Some Guy]

Apologies if this seems a bit political, but the ramifications of this bill will likely adversely affect every modeler in the country.

Briefly, the government mistakenly thinks it can reduce knife crime by making it illegal to deliver "bladed articles" to a residential address. So far there have been no exemptions mentioned. This is likely to mean no more deliveries of craft knives, scalpels, chisels, scissors and possibly side cutters.

If you are a self employed tradesman, tough luck if you need a Stanley knife or a spare blade for your woodworking plane. The government in their wisdom has said NO! If you use single edge razor blades, or a cut throat, then you are equally stuffed.

Incidentally, this is the same legislation that bans knives in further education establishments. Tough luck if you are a budding artist or a trainee chef. Maybe you will learn how to beat vegetables into submission with a wooden spoon.

There is a petition to repeal this part of the act.

If you use modelling tools and value your hobby, please sign here.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/222776

[dr_gn]

Can’t you just buy them from a shop as normal?

[CoolHands]

I remember when we all used to bring flick knives back from France on school trips. Banning something rarely works.

[Turn7]

CoolHands said:

I remember when we all used to bring flick knives back from France on school trips. Banning something rarely works.

Buy 4/5 and sell them on at school lunch ? Me sir ? Nooooo.........

[Some Guy]

dr_gn said:

Can’t you just buy them from a shop as normal?

How many shops do you know that sell Swann Morton scalpel blades?

[dr_gn]

Some Guy said:

dr_gn said:

Can’t you just buy them from a shop as normal?

How many shops do you know that sell Swann Morton scalpel blades?

Hobbycraft, Hannants, Antics, my local model shop, literally dozens of traders at any model show...I buy them by the hundred and have never had any issue whatsoever obtaining them. I’ve never had them posted.

[Eric Mc]

I usually get mine at model shows. I've never bought a knife or blade on line.

[Yertis]

If it thought that through, the Government would want all blades to be bought online – then there would be an audit trail from purchase to delivery. As it is any old bod can walk into a shop and buy blades with cash.

Stupid legislation.

[dr_gn]

Yertis said:

If it thought that through, the Government would want all blades to be bought online – then there would be an audit trail from purchase to delivery. As it is any old bod can walk into a shop and buy blades with cash.

Stupid legislation.

Not really; you have to be over a certain age to buy cigarettes / alcohol / other controlled substances (and I think fixed-blade knifes) in a shop, so surely this simply adds blades to the list of potentially harmful things that can't easily be bought by kids?

I assume the theory is that under the new rules, nobody under 18 could buy the blades in a shop, and since they wouldn't be available for delivery either, it would reduce the chances of people under 18 getting them?

If they're delivered, nobody has any check on the age of the recipient. It's never going to stop knife crime, but there you go.

It's not like scalpel blades are being banned, I can't see why it's really a big issue for modellers. If someone under 18 wants blades for modelling, they can ask an adult to buy them. If that adult knows they'll be used to harm someone, then there probably wasn't any way of stopping that particular individual anyway.

[Equus]

dr_gn said:

Not really; you have to be over a certain age to buy cigarettes / alcohol / other controlled substances (and I think fixed-blade knifes) in a shop, so surely this simply adds blades to the list of potentially harmful things that can't easily be bought by kids?

You can't easily buy things online unless you've got a credit or debit card though - which is easily controlled, and could easily be made to flag if the purchaser is under 18.

[defblade]

And, as with the VCR act and air guns, it only applies to UK sellers. So you will still be able to order the same things from any other country in the world, while UK businesses close down...

[DIW35]

dr_gn said:

I assume the theory is that under the new rules, nobody under 18 could buy the blades in a shop, and since they wouldn't be available for delivery either, it would reduce the chances of people under 18 getting them?

And that's where the Govt. displays its ignorance. Any kid under 18 who wants to obtain a blade only has to go the kitchen drawer. Much easier and quicker than going to a shop or trying to buy online.

[CoolHands]

Many gang members are over 18 so can easily buy knives. Many gang members will steal knives from shops. Every house has knives so every teenager has access.

Their policy has more leaks than a sieve.

[Halmyre]

Any pack of disposable Bic razors has more than enough blades to keep wannabe hard men supplied, surely?