i studied law @ A level and I know this for a fact ...
to commit a crime you need ... the mensrea and the actusrea.
mensrea is the forethought of commiting a crime.
actusrea is the action of committing a crime.
you've already stated you dont know the laws so no crime has been committed.
so until you're actually told something is illegal its not.
.
It's far too late for this but - Oh dearie me.
I did'nt study law at A Level but I know for a fact that your above post is so wrong that it's scary. We don't have A Levels in Scotland, you see, so I had to make do with a law degree, and then I trained in, and have specialised in criminal law for the last 20 years and run my own criminal defence practice, in Scotland.
Mens rea and actus rea are not quite as you have tried to describe, but the real problem is your last two statements, which are the direct opposite of the law and always have been, in England as well , by the way.
Knife related offences are treated extremely seriously by courts in Scotland, with a great deal of political pressure on the current way the law is enforced but also with a view to creating mandatory imprisonment for those "carrying knives" which is the simplistic view.
To baldscot - firstly, none of the items you describe in your OP are illegal to own although there are certain restrictions on their lawful use in public places, which is what the police at the campsite will have been concerned about. That , as stated by others, is in fact entirely irrelevant to the taking of the items at the police station. As none of the items are prohibited they cannot be taken without reason nor your permission. As you were there on a prearranged appointment to discuss them, you had a reasonable excuse for having them in your possession at that time. Reasonable excuse is the pertinent factor as we are not dealing with offensive weapons - ( this is S.47 of the Criminal Law ( Consolidation ) Scotland Act 1995 and relates to items which are by nature deemed to be offensive weapons or items intended for or adapted for use as offensive weapons ) but the far more common bladed or pointed item ( S.49 of the same Act ).
Again as stated already, we don't really have cautions here , there is something approaching that but it would neve be used in a case involving knives or blades due to the already mentioned politics. Any detention or arrest let alone conviction could affect your career because I believe from your described work that you would be subject to Enhanced Disclosure and the police can put forward pretty much anything against you for that - I've even seen them stating that someone was unsuitable because the had been found NOT guilty of an offence. That being the case , your comments about what it may cost to employ a solicitor are a false economy so .....
You DO need to speak to a solicitor , not a conveyancer or divorce lawyer but a criminal specialist and quickly. The police will be in no hurry at all to reply to you and may simply hope that you go away and don't bother them again. You may be eligible for legal advice and assistance legal aid, even though working. Although it pains me to say so as I wholly disgree with the concept of them - you could also try the Public Defence Solicitors Office as there is one in Glasgow - near the Saltmarket from memory. There is no duty solicitor for you to speak to, as the duty solicitor scheme in Scotland relates only to those in custody and appearing from custody at court. The CAB will be of no use in a situation like this either, it's not set up for criminal law problems.