Unsettling story

[d000hg]

On the face of it, its a bit worrying that your life can be screwed for carrying something like that tucked away for self defence.

The police have no way to know he's really carrying it because he's scared, or because he threatens people once they're in his cab, or is a weirdo who likes having a knife in case someone cuts him up on the road (no pun). We've only your side of the story he's a nice bloke and he might have lied to everyone.

Don't think there is a way to be tough on knife-crime without some false positives... but jail-time for possession alone is pretty OTT in my view.

[BdP]

My daughter went to visit a friend from her schooldays,

Any pics?

[fullyautomatix]

Did he think he was living in Somalia ? This is a developed, modern, civilised western world.

[fullyautomatix]

Any pics?

Ask HAB, he has some pics of his Ex.

[Mich the Tester]

The police have no way to know he's really carrying it because he's scared, or because he threatens people once they're in his cab, or is a weirdo who likes having a knife in case someone cuts him up on the road (no pun). We've only your side of the story he's a nice bloke and he might have lied to everyone.

Don't think there is a way to be tough on knife-crime without some false positives... but jail-time for possession alone is pretty OTT in my view.

I guess you have to choose between false positives and false negatives. Do you think that it's OK to increaase the risk of sending a few innocent people to jail to catch the guilty ones, or that you should risk letting a few guilty ones go to minimise the risk of sending innocent people to jail. Personally I prefer the second of those options, but then possibly I'm just a 'bleeding heart liberal'.

[SupremeSpod]

I guess you have to choose between false positives and false negatives. Do you think that it's OK to increaase the risk of sending a few innocent people to jail to catch the guilty ones, or that you should risk letting a few guilty ones go to minimise the risk of sending innocent people to jail. Personally I prefer the second of those options, but then possibly I'm just a 'bleeding heart liberal'.

The man was carrying a knife. He broke the law. End of.

If he thinks he has mitigating circumstances then he'll have his day in court.

[Pondlife]

The man was carrying a knife. He broke the law. End of.

If he thinks he has mitigating circumstances then he'll have his day in court.

WSSS

If you're going to drive a cab and pick up randoms (as opposed to private hire) then driving one with a screen between you and the pondlife is the only way IMHO.

A knife in the glovebox or down the side of your seat is probably of little genuine use when you're having to deal with someone attacking from your left and/or from behind.

[xoggoth]

A large socket spanner driver or similar is much better. Even if it's somewhere handy rather than in the toolbox they can't prove you didn't just leave it there after a service job.

[MarillionFan]

He's obviously a psycho and not very bright. He has delusions of grandeur, bad body odour & obviously is famous for long rambling nonsensical conversations.

But that's enough about EO. The taxi driver had it coming.

[Ignis Fatuus]

Nope.

Nor is mace.

However, an aerosol of antiperspirant is probably as effective.

You can't carry anything for the purpose of harming other people, whether in self-defence or not.

You can carry a Swiss Army knife as long as you don't carry it for the purpose of harming others. But ironically, as Victorinox and Wenger have finally given in to pressure from customers and introduced Swiss Army knives with a blade lock, which is much safer for the user, the UK has banned those.