Telescopic Baton

[martint235]

I didn't know whether to put this in the equipment section or not

Given that the Govt has relaxed or is relaxing the rules on what level of force is allowed to protect yourself and your property, could anyone give a definitive answer on whether or not it is illegal in the UK to have a telescopic baton:

1. In your home?
2. On your person in clear view?
3. Concealed about your person?

 

[MrJamie]

No idea, but I think having an obviously premeditated plan can get you in trouble if you do end up using it and doing too much damage, as opposed to a spur of the moment poor judgement over-response.

 

[ASC1951]

A telescopic baton is definitely an offensive weapon, so:
1. No
2. Yes
3. Yes

I don't see the point of having one in your home, tbh. It just makes you paranoid about intruders without adding to your safety.

 

[martint235]

If it's an offensive weapon, why is it not illegal at home?

 

[vernon]

If you get hold of the wrong end of a telescopic baton, does it make your adversaries appear to be further away?

 

[vernon]

If it's an offensive weapon, why is it not illegal at home?

For the same reason that carving knives, hammers, and scissors are offensive weapons when they are not in the home...

 

[roadrash]

thanks vernon ... i now have coffee all over my keyboard

 

[junglegusset]

Also a baton is clearly a weapon and has no other obvious purpose. Difficult to give a good reason for carrying it other than 'I was thinking of hitting someone with it'.

 

[martint235]

For the same reason that carving knives, hammers, and scissors are offensive weapons when they are not in the home...

Surely you could be legitimately carrying a hammer somewhere?

And isn't self defense a reason for carrying a baton?

 

[vernon]

Surely you could be legitimately carrying a hammer somewhere?

And isn't self defense a reason for carrying a baton?

And isn't self defence a legitimate reason for carrying a hammer?

 

[vernon]

thanks vernon ... i now have coffee all over my keyboard

You're welcome...

 

[martint235]

And isn't self defence a legitimate reason for carrying a hammer?

Don't know. A hammer wouldn't fit quite so perfectly into a mini pump bracket though.

 

[Cubist]

Offensive weapon has the following definition

Where a person other than at his place of abode has with him any article made or adapted to cause personal injury to another, or

intended to cause such injury by that person or any other.

So, the first line defines an article made to cause personal injury, and with no other "normal" purpose, so a switchblade, stilletto, dagger, knuckleduster, truncheon, baton chinese throwing star etc etc etc only have one purpose, and are therefore offensive weapons per se.

or adapted here think of a pool cue with tape round the handle and a lead weight on one end which was an ordinary implement which has been made into a weapon.

or intended so here we have a hockey stick or a rounders/baseball bat carried for the purpose of hitting people.

Any of these things can be kept at home as curios, collectors' items etc but not carried in public.


Scissors, and other sharp implements are also covered by other more recent legislation which makes it an offence to have with you without good reason in a public place any sharply pointed or bladed article, except for a folding pocket knife the cutting edge of which does not exceed 7.62 cm (3 inches)

Telescopic batons have their own little foibles, inasmuch as it is illegal to make, sell or supply one, and has been since 2004, so unless you owned one before then, you're unlikely to be able to get hold of one anyway.

 

[martint235]

Oh well there goes a perfectly good idea.

 

[Drago]

It's a designated offensive weapon:

Home - yes, but how will you even get it home without you or someone else commiting the offence?

On your person in public - Offence whether visible or concealed.

TBH though, they're crap anyway. Being the rather large and strong chap I am I can be quite hard on my equipment, and the two times I've had to plant a telescopic peg round someones head (each time the scumbag had a knife) I managed to snap one and bend the second. nothing worse than suddenly finding yourself unarmed holding only 6 inches of peg when you're facing a guy with a kitchen knife but luckily im authorised to carry the PR 24 NX instead, the official reason is medical dispensation by a Home Office accredited Doctor as I cant get so much swing with my titanium elbow.

The telescopic baton and its variants, the ASP, Monadnock 21" etc, and really back up "oh s**t!" weapons for officers that carry firearms, such as in the states. Small size and light weight are more the priorirty here than actual tactical defensive capability. They work by causing transient discomfort (ie, a lorra pain!) due to fluid displacement through the muscle tissues, whereas the heavier side handled pegs are desgined to break bones if necessary. As a weapon they're less use than 4 stiff fingers in the windpipe.

The main reason most UK forces have switched to them is cost, weight (the heavier side handled jobs can cause backaches etc if you're small and weedy and several female officers have sued Forces for this over the years) and because some forces felt the PR24 looked to aggressive! An aggressive looking weapon - whatever next?!

Next up we'll see smaller, lighter rifles issued to female soldiers, and the Home Office have reached an agreement with villains that only smaller and lighter criminals will resist a female officer in the future.