UK postal laws for blades are changing

[Siwi]

I have recently learned that as of 22/04/24 it will not be permitted to send any kind of blade through Royal Mail, and very likely other private couriers will do the same. The rationale for this is a change in the law because some under-18s were able to acquire knives by using their parent's card and address to bypass age verification.


Whilst I hardly object to preventing knife crime (there have been a substantial number of stabbings, including by children) this is a typical sledgehammer to crack a nut scenario by the British government, because it will include absolutely all blades, including shaving razors, scissors and replacement hobby knife blades, never mind whether they are mere cm long and totally legal. If you want to buy replacement blades for the knife you use to make beautiful models - avoiding waste - you will have no choice but to go to a hobby store (and presumably prove your age if the proprieter is scared of the authorities), right at the time when hobby stores are closing and shops in general are stocking less. Perhaps it will be possible to order to collect in a shop, but one wonders how they will get your replacement blades delivered if they can't recieve them by post either? Don't think you can order from abroad either since customs take great delight in gloating over knives they've found from x-raying international post.



I would strongly encourage Brits here to stock up on anything you might find becomes difficult to obtain as soon as possible - I will be getting a good supply of Swann-Morton 10As.

[chris190]

Thanks Siwi, you would hope that government might apply themselves to real problems but that's really a bit much to ask!

Bulk order of Swann Morton no 1. blades seems a good idea for me, can't think of anywhere local, let alone one that has the specialised knowledge to even stock such items.

Best wishes

Chris

[dhanners]

Thanks for that. I may just stock up. The closest reliable craft/hobby supply store is a 40-minute bus ride away, so ordering online is usually faster.

[Siwi]

Originally Posted by chris190

Thanks Siwi, you would hope that government might apply themselves to real problems but that's really a bit much to ask!

Bulk order of Swann Morton no 1. blades seems a good idea for me, can't think of anywhere local, let alone one that has the specialised knowledge to even stock such items.

Best wishes

Chris

Yep, this is coming from the same gang of 1% who have spent tens of millions turning motorways into death traps, do nothing about air pollution that causes thousands of deaths a year and destroyed the economic security and social services that prevent people from getting into crime in the first place.


Wouldn't it be ironic if some n'er do well made a weapon from cardboard soaked in superglue or resin and sharpened - it's been done and is sharp enough to cut food so could certainly become a lethal weapon. Guess they'd have to respond to the manufactured tabloid hysteria by banning cardboard.

[Vermin_King]

Don't give them more ideas, sir

[Mechanic]

I'm hesitant say anything for fear of being flamed, and not being knowledgeable of British law beyond what I can read on the internet. The Royal Mail refers to s141A Criminal Justice Act 1988 and 'Bladed Products' for definition.

From what I can gather, the Royal Mail (as of 2022) is prohibiting the mailing of bladed weapons that have been already illegal to own since 1988. s141A has a fairly long list defining what a 'bladed weapon' is, and apparently excludes swords of less than 50 centimeters and folding pocket knives with a blade less than 7.62 centimeters, among other things. There is a lot of information available far too extensive for to list in a post and amendments made since 1988. But it looks like a good jumping off point is "https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-knives-bladed-and-pointed-articles".

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[Siwi]

Originally Posted by Mechanic

I'm hesitant say anything for fear of being flamed, and not being knowledgeable of British law beyond what I can read on the internet. The Royal Mail refers to s141A Criminal Justice Act 1988 and 'Bladed Products' for definition.

From what I can gather, the Royal Mail (as of 2022) is prohibiting the mailing of bladed weapons that have been already illegal to own since 1988. s141A has a fairly long list defining what a 'bladed weapon' is, and apparently excludes swords of less than 50 centimeters and folding pocket knives with a blade less than 7.62 centimeters, among other things. There is a lot of information available far too extensive for to list in a post and amendments made since 1988. But it looks like a good jumping off point is "https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-knives-bladed-and-pointed-articles".

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Royal Mail already prohibit illegal blades, but this change will also cover anything defined as a blade in the latest legislation, which specifically names hobby blades, gardening tools, scissors, exposed razors, etc. You can't even use an age verification service any more. Pathetic.

[John Wagenseil]

WOW!
I used to be employed by hospitals and free standing clinics in the USA, which were huge consumers of blades and scissors, many shipped via the postal service. And of course the various kinds of surgeons were notoriously blade happy. Lasers and HF coagulators cannot do everything.
I guess UK hospitals and surgery clinics, heretofore well stocked with cabinets full of sharp pointed thingies, will have to close their doors, lest they draw the attention of punitive pusillanimous pencil pushers.

Given the abysmal state the the NHS, maybe no one will notice.


(If you have recently purchased tools in or from the USA you probably will have noticed that most of them come with a printed statement that they are known to cause cancer in the State of California. Fortunately, I no longer live in California, so the cancer causing properties of my tools have been inactivated.)

[John Wagenseil]

From the UK law regarding knives:
"It further provides specific defences of - having the article with them for use at work; for religious reasons; or as part of any national costume."


I have ancestors from below the Mason-Dixon line so I should be good wearing an Arkansas toothpick in public, in the UK, since it is part of my national costume; however a #11 hobby blade does not fit any of the exemptions, unless making paper models is a religious rite or "work".

[murphyaa]

Originally Posted by John Wagenseil

From the UK law regarding knives:
"It further provides specific defences of - having the article with them for use at work; for religious reasons; or as part of any national costume."


I have ancestors from below the Mason-Dixon line so I should be good wearing an Arkansas toothpick in public, in the UK, since it is part of my national costume; however a #11 hobby blade does not fit any of the exemptions, unless making paper models is a religious rite or "work".

"I'm a Papermodeler. Exacto blades are part of my religion."