To be fair, I've not heard of this happening before with Sikhs. It's not a common problem, but if the law were consistent on the subject, Henry wouldn't have been stabbed. I think public possession should be banned in UK. Some traditions have to stop.Would you advocate putting speed limiters in all cars because speeding is a factor in hundreds of road deaths in the UK every year?
Denying a whole group their long standing religious freedoms based on the actions of one person is a little bit reactionary. Sure, lets have a national debate on the matter, but lets not overreact.
Me neither i think it’s an isolated incident but once is once to many, carry i small knife if its part of your religion, a 9” bladed knife definitely should be arrest worthy.To be fair, I've not heard of this happening before with Sikhs. It's not a common problem, but if the law were consistent on the subject, Henry wouldn't have been stabbed. I think public possession should be banned in UK. Some traditions have to stop.
The guy didn't stab Henry coz he was a Sihk or because he was 'allowed' to have a ceremonial knife. He stabbed him coz he was a ****. He'd have been a **** regardless of what the laws was about knives.To be fair, I've not heard of this happening before with Sikhs. It's not a common problem, but if the law were consistent on the subject, Henry wouldn't have been stabbed. I think public possession should be banned in UK. Some traditions have to stop.
100% especially where lethal weapons are involved.The law of the land should always be above religious belief
Jack Straw: Police anti-racism guidelines have gone too far
Former home secretary admits there has been an ‘over-correction’ as outcry grows over murder of Henry Nowak.
Jack Straw has warned that police anti-racism guidelines have gone too far since he oversaw the inquiry into the Stephen Lawrence murder more than 25 years ago.
Mr Straw said “greater care” was needed in drafting guidance on race and “less notice” should be taken of “vocal pressure groups”.
It does seem a bit absurd that any group should be allowed to carry knives in public, whatever the reason.To be fair, I've not heard of this happening before with Sikhs. It's not a common problem, but if the law were consistent on the subject, Henry wouldn't have been stabbed. I think public possession should be banned in UK. Some traditions have to stop.
Correction Ric .It does seem a bit absurd that any group should be allowed to carry knives in public, whatever the reason.
100% right re. same laws for all and equal justice under them. Thank you to Magna Carta, the Enlightenment, Tom Paine, Emily Pankhurst, etc.Allowing certain groups to hide behind culture allowing them to carry knives is bullshit, take your culture elsewhere, this is the United Kingdom, let’s apply laws evenly and without prejudice none of this two tier shite we are witnessing
Depends where. Reckon it’s a pretty sedate life as a copper in counties such as Dorset and Northumbria.I’m not defending anyone but I would not like to be a copper in the UK today.
There is definitely a national debate to be had about this. This was an accident (if you can call it that) waiting to happen.It does seem a bit absurd that any group should be allowed to carry knives in public, whatever the reason.
Religions are also remarkably adaptable when they have no choice. There are countries where sikhs aren't allowed to carry a blade with them, so instead, they carry something symbolic, like a miniature version on a necklace, or one that is blunt and/or not metal. It's kind of like how there are countries where there's no exemption from animal welfare rules for halal meat, and surprise, surprise, in those countries, you can still buy halal meat that has been pre-stunned before slaughter.It does seem a bit absurd that any group should be allowed to carry knives in public, whatever the reason.
And the pedant of the week award goes to...... :-)Correction Ric .
Everybody is allowed to carry a knife on their person when out and about in public places.
The law stipulates that it must be a folding knife,with a blade that is 3" long maximum.
And the blade must not lock when opened, so lock knives are strictly forbidden.
This allows for the fact that a knife is a tool( indeed prehistoric humans first tool were sharp pieces of flint).
Also whilst on the subject, the use of the 2 words " knife crime" is a huge misnomer.
A knife is an inanimate object, I've never heard about a knife or other type of blade jumping out of it's sheath and attacking someone.
The correct term for using a weapon to attack someone is VIOLENT CRIME, and these crimes are committed by VIOLENT CRIMINALS.
I have yet to hear or read about a knife or blades article being found guilty of murder or even manslaughter in a court of law, because as already stated it's an inanimate object with no mind of it's own.
Here endeth the lesson.
Well that depends on what part of the culture you want to taken elsewhere, it needn't be nasty at all. Living without fear of harm or prejudice should be the goal in every country.100% right re. same laws for all and equal justice under them. Thank you to Magna Carta, the Enlightenment, Tom Paine, Emily Pankhurst, etc.
But "take your culture elsewhere"? Nasty stuff, that. And apart from its nastiness, it doesn't work. Going back a bit the Celts would have said "take your culture elsewhere" to the Romans, as would Saxons to Normans and so on through 2,000 years of Britain's story. And what emerged from that mix of languages, laws, religions and customs was not a monocultural people. Arguably never has been. "Take it elsewhere" isn't just a ship that's sailed, it's sunk.
100% right re. same laws for all and equal justice under them. Thank you to Magna Carta, the Enlightenment, Tom Paine, Emily Pankhurst, etc.
But "take your culture elsewhere"? Nasty stuff, that. And apart from its nastiness, it doesn't work. Going back a bit the Celts would have said "take your culture elsewhere" to the Romans, as would Saxons to Normans and so on through 2,000 years of Britain's story. And what emerged from that mix of languages, laws, religions and customs was not a monocultural people. Arguably never has been. "Take it elsewhere" isn't just a ship that's sailed, it's sunk.
That’s a lot of crap to read before my first coffee.Allowing certain groups to hide behind culture allowing them to carry knives is bullshit, take your culture elsewhere, this is the United Kingdom, let’s apply laws evenly and without prejudice none of this two tier shite we are witnessing