International Law

Pointy things

By John Hirst

A judge has ordered the Crown Prosecution Service to make a public apology to a gardener who was arrested and taken to court for carrying a scythe which he said he needed for his work.

"Peter Drew, 49, a self employed ground clearance contractor, had the scythe and other bladed tools in his work van when he was stopped by police on his way to a job in Penzance, Cornwall".

The law:

Tradesmen are entitled to carry their implements provided they are doing so in connection with their work, therefore giving them a lawful excuse, lawyers said.

It is not clear why police stopped Mr Drew in the first place. However, it would appear that the reason did not amount to anything. Therefore, it would appear to me that in some kind of face saving attempt the police decided to arrest and charge him on a trumped up charge. As I understand it, the process would have to go through at least a desk sergeant first and perhaps even a inspector before it got to the CPS. What is the point of having these safeguards if they are not used properly?

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on October 12, 2008 (boomark / email).