Bushcraft licence to and from the Moot to a place of Residence !

[C_Claycomb]

Just explain that you are travelling to a remote training camp where survivalist, prepers and ecco warriors rub shoulders with ninjas, pirates and chartered accountants! You need all the stuff you are carrying in order to participate in the training; making and using a variety of primitive and improvised weapons such as slings, catapults, spears, and bow and arrows as well as learning tracking, field expedient booby trap triggers and how to throw knives, axes and tent stakes.

okenest:

 

[Macaroon]

The mention of licences for anything like sharps makes my teeth tingle - a real case of be careful what you wish for. It'd be an open door for a whole pile of beaurocrats to make even more legislation about something they know nothing of. They'd tie us up in knots and issue countless rules, regulations and qualifiers that'd make our heads spin and once that sort of thing takes flight you can never get rid of it; a real curse!

 

[KenThis]

I completely understand the concerns of the OP, perfectly reasonable IMHO.
Whether one wishes to recognise it or not racial profiling and targeting does occur unfortunately.

However I agree with a number of posters that just explaining to the police officer where you are going and why you are carrying the 'tools' should be enough.
Having your ticket and some info about the moot couldn't hurt but is probably overkill.

Personally I abhor the thought of having to justify myself or my actions if stopped and did look into the actual powers of the police if they stop you.
You may be surprised to learn exactly what information you are required to give, it's probably not as much as you think.

However I also appreciate that I am luckier than some in our society in not being actively targeted for stop and search.
Also although I have looked into my rights if stopped, I'm not sure if the event ever occurred I wouldn't just comply with the officers for an easier life.

Finally I think we should all try to be more understanding of others views, I think it would surprise a lot of us to spend a day walking in someone else's shoes, to understand how they see the world and how the world sees them.

 

[Wayne]

Most interactions with authority depends on your response. It you are polite and follow direction you and build a rapport with the official then it's surprising what can be achieved.

I have been stopped carrying axes knives and other tools in a variety of locations where strictly speaking I may not have had the best excuse for carrying. Although generally I don't carry sharps unless it's for work. Always a polite chat with the officer in charge and an explaination of what I'm carrying and the importance of safety and environmental concersidations in choosing the tool has got me by with a cheery wave etc.

If youre a belligerent pain in the rear and you happen to be carrying a tool you have made the officers day. He or she gets an arrest and a warm fuzzy glow from knowing another idiot is off the streets for a bit.

Common sense and a warm demanour has got me through many a sticky situation. Wearing a belt kit with axe and knife in the M4'services is going to get you shot.

 

[Falstaff]

I feel for Interceptors concerns, with the Met Police in London, just being brown is enough. It's not paranoia, the Police are quite clear and un-apologetic, the number of stops of black people is higher than whites, and results in a higher number of arrests and charges per head for blacks than whites. Therefore they say it is justified. Being in a high crime area, or being youngish and/or looking "ethnic" will increase your chances of being stopped, as will the time of day or night.
London Police are very concerned by the rise in knife crime and would rather seize items and argue about it after. I find it difficult to argue with this given the rising level of weapon violence.

No amount of licences or prior notices will change this, and indeed can increase the visits, search and seizures - e.g. licenced firearms holders. At present they do not have entry rights without a search warrant, but I hear they are quietly trying to change the law on that to enable entry and seizure of weapons based largely on unsubstantiated rumours of weapons.
Keeping stum and low profile, and polite and calm when stopped, is the only way to go. Waynes advice is right. As discussed, a meeting ticket or booking form for an event, and/or a business card, will go a long way. Something lockable in the boot of the car helps.
I suggest that membership of some clubs and organisations goes some way to prove reason. Not many of those stoppd with a baseball bat in the boot can show they play baseball regularly. I left a Bushmeet sticker on my windscreen for that very reason.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Just note that this thread had been inactive for seven years, and Interceptor Boy, the originator, did not pursue the subject for the next five years, suggesting that what had been said on the subject was enough. He has not been on the forum now for two years, so further replies addressing his own specific concerns might not be as useful as they would have been in 2017.
Edited to add-
...as useful as they would have been in 2017 when he was here and was asking for the advice.

 

[Stlh374]

A lockable toolbox in the boot is always a good place to carry knives, or at the bottom of your rucksack, it's all common sence don't have them on display don't carry in a public place and unless you give them a reason the police are unlikely to search your car for the fun of it

 

[demographic]

I get that someone from abroad might not have read about the Met police being institutionally racist but the recent report by (from memory) Baronets Casy shows that black people are more likely to be stopped by the police,more likely to be charged and given much harsher when treatment when sentanced.
Can't say I'm a fan of a licencing scheme but I can see where the OP is coming from with his concerns.

 

[rarms]

Just note that this thread had been inactive for seven years, and Interceptor Boy, the originator...... has not been on the forum now for two years.....

Perhaps he has is in prison after being stopped on the motorway without a valid permit for his wood working knives!

 

[demographic]

Can someone please explain to me his slightly old question is Less relevant now?
Unless that no doubt expensive report into the Met was wrong, in which case can you provide the source of your information for evaluation.

 

[Wildgoose]

Avoid doing bushcraft in Hyde Park or the Mall and you should be fine.

I see tradesmen on the tube everyday with tool bags, multi tools on belts, lock knives with clips in pockets and even the odd chisel knife and nobody bats an eyelid.

Be sensible with how sharps are carried, be reasonable and polite if stopped and explain where you are going and what you are planning to do and there won’t be an issue im sure.

 

[William_Montgomery]

I get that someone from abroad might not have read about the Met police being institutionally racist but the recent report by (from memory) Baronets Casy shows that black people are more likely to be stopped by the police,more likely to be charged and given much harsher when treatment when sentanced.
Can't say I'm a fan of a licencing scheme but I can see where the OP is coming from with his concerns.

It's unfair to level accusations of racism based on those statistics.
It's a response to particular demographics being over represented in certain crimes. That in itself could easily be argued to be cultural rather than racial.
The whole thing is much more complex.

 

[demographic]

It's unfair to level accusations of racism based on those statistics.
It's a response to particular demographics being over represented in certain crimes. That in itself could easily be argued to be cultural rather than racial.
The whole thing is much more complex.

It's in the report, do you want a to fire up a link to the PDF file or do you think you can find it yourself?

 

[Ystranc]

Has anybody on this Forum ever had an issue with Police not liking a bladed tool / sharp implement carried on person, pack or vehicle?

I feel the OP is creating a non existing issue, plus mixing in ethnic non problems?

As a white middle aged male living in rural Wales I can truthfully answer that in the affirmative. To the point where I had stated why I was carrying a bright orange Hultafors crafter to and from my shooting permission and the young police officer still thought it necessary to contact a sergeant and be told what to do. Ridiculously I was also carrying a bag containing sixteen paunched bunnies, a licensed firearm in a slip and a pocket full of ammunition. I think he was bored and feeling nosey.
In this case I use a fixed blade for food hygiene purposes so I don’t get a build up of stinky bunny guts in a folding knife. This isn’t on the official list of reasons for carrying a fixed blade but I was allowed to keep my £4.95 Hultafors knife with its nasty orange handle.

 

[Chris]

As a white middle aged male living in rural Wales I can truthfully answer that in the affirmative. To the point where I had stated why I was carrying a bright orange Hultafors crafter to and from my shooting permission and the young police officer still thought it necessary to contact a sergeant and be told what to do. Ridiculously I was also carrying a bag containing sixteen paunched bunnies, a licensed firearm in a slip and a pocket full of ammunition. I think he was bored and feeling nosey.
In this case I use a fixed blade for food hygiene purposes so I don’t get a build up of stinky bunny guts in a folding knife. This isn’t on the official list of reasons for carrying a fixed but I was allowed to keep my £4.95 Hultafors knife with its nasty orange handle.

How did he know you had the knife on you? Would this have been an issue if it was in your bag or in the car?

 

[Ystranc]

How did he know you had the knife on you? Would this have been an issue if it was in your bag or in the car?

Unfortunately it was visible clipped to the strap of my game bag…my stupid mistake but then again this should have made its purpose even more obvious. I suppose it was a case of young copper sees a bloodstained knife and has a bit of a species reaction.

 

[Chris]

Unfortunately it was visible clipped to the strap of my game bag…my stupid mistake but then again this should have made its purpose even more obvious. I suppose it was a case of young copper sees a bloodstained knife and has a bit of a species reaction.

Yeah, you would hope common sense would prevail with the police when seeing these things.

 

[C_Claycomb]

My pal Jed told the story of being on his way to Gulf War 1 and getting severe hassle from a RMP because he had a 6" knife on his web gear! Bearing in mind he was also carrying an SA80 and related stuff on the way to a war zone, the absurdity was not lost on him! Reckoned the guy had been conditioned over a career of taking blades of squaddies in pubs!
Similarly, another mate had the police descend upon him, or rather his car, when came back from lamping near Milton Keynes. He was using a .22lr with a high capacity mag, and while that gave the unarmed officers fits, what really got him hassle from one youngsters was the Buck 110 in his pocket...because it was a lock knife!

 

[Macaroon]

Yeah, you would hope common sense would prevail with the police when seeing these things.

And pigs might fly!

 

[William_Montgomery]

It's in the report, do you want a to fire up a link to the PDF file or do you think you can find it yourself?

No, you're all right.

I've got plenty of criticism of the police force and had enough run-ins to experience much of it first hand. My point is that just because statistically young black males are more likely to be stopped and searched by the Met, that doesn't automatically point towards institutional racism.