Is it illegal to carry a set of kitchen knives through the streets?

I have to drop off a Christmas gift for somebody on my mountain bike (they love cooking) it is a 24 piece set of kitchen Knives. Is that illegal because I heard that any blade over 3 inch and you could be arrested.

Just keep them in a backpack out of sight and you will be ok.

33 Responses

  1. Dan Says:

    Just keep them in a backpack out of sight and you will be ok.
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  2. sparkey Says:

    not if they are wrapped up as a gift
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  3. scott s Says:

    yes it is illegal but you aint likely to get searched
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  4. Joey E Says:

    You have to get them home somehow.
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  5. dreams Says:

    not if they are for a gift…if you had them in you back pocket then yes
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  6. Scottish independence NOW Says:

    not so long as you are not using them to harm or imply harm.. put them in a bag of keep them in the original packing if you just bought them.
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  7. Susan L Says:

    I think in england it is illegal, they need to be in a chefs case, which is a hard case. But I think if a cop was to stop you, they wouldnt throw you in jail, if its clearing a gift. I think its illegal to go waving a cleaver on the street threatening to kill everyone… your not going to do that, right?!?!
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  8. Mad Max Says:

    If they are in their original packaging from the shop it should not be a problem… otherwise you would have to talk your way out of it if caught
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  9. My pic looks good Says:

    Not if it is packaged like that, you can be arrested for carrying a screwdriver!

    But if police do have a word explain your case and they can’t arrest you
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  10. nickthesurfer Says:

    Technically it is illegal but if they’re wrapped-up you should be ok – you have to transport them from A to B.
    Even those that need knives for their job have to be careful, and ensure their knives are securely stored (or even locked away) they they travel between jobs.
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  11. kenny b Says:

    no its not illegal as long as you have them wrapped and you do have a reason for having them
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  12. Richard K Says:

    As long as they are packaged or wrapped, its OK. Don’t carry them loose or concealed.
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    BC Constabulary

  13. wilfred b Says:

    ACTUALLY it is illegal under the law but common sense will or should be applied in this particular case, it looks like a grey area to me, and more than likely some small print in the law will have a suitable clause to cover this event. but as said it is actually illegal.
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  14. dec Says:

    If you get nicked then just tell them you are going giving it to a friend as a christmas present. If you are unsure then go to your nearest police station, explain the situation and they will advise. Not many police are out there to get everybody for everything, they are still people so they won’t care
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  15. splash Says:

    Just don’t put any alka selzer in your mouth while you are delivering the present, and try not to babble anything about killing anyone. You should be ok…..yeah
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  16. zakiit Says:

    If they are wrapped and ready to be offered for a Christmas present I would see no reason why you cannot carry them, after all we have to take them home to use them when we have bought them, don’t we?!

    My belief is that they would only problem would be if you had them concealed on your person, ready to be drawn for use against another person or animal etc, and your general behaviour at the time you are stopped!

    Police are ususally reasonable if you could give an explanation of your true intentions, in a calm and rational manner.

    Bless you for being such a thoughtful person.

    Happy Christmas and stay out of strife!
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  17. Sakr al Amn Says:

    Not if you are a chef going to a fish filleting masterclass.
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  18. Orbach Says:

    hilarious,

    Everything today is illegal however it depends who you ask. If you ask a cop, yes if you ask a judge yes and if you ask a district attorney yes. If you ask me no.

    If you spit on the floor it’s illegal, if a cop spits on the floor it’s legal….If you beat your girl friend it’s illegal, if a cop beat his girlfriend it’s legal………..
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    Everything is illegal today even when you breath.

  19. agreeable Says:

    It is illegal and an offence to carry knives along with other sharp and harmful implements in public areas with the sole intention to cause injury or commit an affray.
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  20. bjg5240 Says:

    Orbach, your an @$$
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    my opinion

  21. grodno Says:

    You should be OK if they are safely wrapped up and out of sight. A man was recently arrested and charged for having a Swiss penknife in his brief case.
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  22. waterman Says:

    Not if you are chasing an oven ready Turkey
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  23. AdelleStevens Says:

    Wrap them as a gift..
    But if you are stopped if they are in their orginal wrapping a simple explination should do.

    The law to do with carrying knives and offensive wepons is mainly for things that look like they can be used illegally at the time you are stopped/searched.
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  24. Mr Abba Says:

    You should be ok mate, just dont dress as a thug. haha
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  25. michael G Says:

    Chefs travel all the time with their knives. Wrap them up as a gift and you are all set.
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  26. roger.williams20@btinternet.com Says:

    It would be difficult not to if you have just bought them.
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  27. paul w Says:

    The answers on this page are beyond belief!

    It is not illegal to carry knives in the UK, it is an offence to carry a knife with a blade 3" or longer WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE.

    How do you people think Chefs get to work, or fishermen, or Butchers or slaughter men or for that matter, knife salesmen?

    It doesn’t matter if your gift is wrapped, boxed or carried on a velvet cushion, if you’ve got a REASONABLE EXCUSE, you’re fine.
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  28. vdv_desantnik Says:

    make sure they are well wrapped up and stick them in a backpack and you should be OK
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  29. Bear Says:

    You have a reasonable and legitimate excuse. How else would we get knives home from the shops!!!!!!!!!!!!
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    UK cop

  30. Ian UK Says:

    The offence of carrying a blade or sharply pointed article (such as a kitchen knife) would only be an offence if you were doing so without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

    If I stopped you and you were forthcoming with the details you have listed in your question then I’d be happy with your explanation.

    I might however ask to escort you to your destination just to make sure but I certainly wouldn’t be arresting you.
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    UK Copper

  31. jackie m Says:

    Scotland It is illegal – my friend carries one in his lunch bag to work as he works in various place without cutlery – he was in a road accident and was charged with carrying an offencive weapon -waiting trial but should get about 6 months. I would make sure they are well wrapped up in Xmas paper. He was on a bike.
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  32. Ed Says:

    In England "going equipped" is a crime, eg equipped to burgle, steal or cause harm or injury, or to threaten.

    If you intend any of these, it is illegal.

    Kitchen knives, though, have a reasonable legal use. If you are simply transporting packaged knives, or carrying knives from one place to another and intend using them in the way they were intended, that is fine.

    Other items you can be arrested for carrying without good cause include crowbars, screwdrivers etc. These too have reasonable uses, eg if you are a joiner you can reasonably claim they are "tools of the trade." For that matter I suppose a kitchen knife is a tool of the trade for a chef, but we all need to cook!
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    Arrested for going equipped and released without charge.

  33. footie Says:

    It is not illegal to carry a set of knives for the purpose of giving them as a gift, and therefore, they would be wrapped or boxed as such. A knife becomes an offensive weapon for purposes of law when the person carrying it has no good reason for carrying it, and it could therefore be taken that they are carrying it for the purposes of crime. If you have a good reason for having them then there will be no problem.
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