Carrying picks in the UK

[sivlogkart]

Does anyone know the legal position of someone found carrying lockpicks in the UK? It happend to me once but the policeman did not know what they were.

KJ

[oldlock]

It's called " going equiped " if they are keen enough and you don't have a legitimate reason (hobbyist won't cut it) they you can get yourself in a whole heap of trouble ............

Paul

[digital_blue]

Doesn't the law still require some sort of apparent "intent", as is the case in most places?

db

[oldlock]

carrying the picks without a good reason is the intent - why else would you have them ????

Paul

[TOWCH]

You're kidding right?

[digital_blue]

Well, because you pick locks as a hobby... obviously!

Seriously though, most places (most of Canada included) seem to have some form of "intent" written into the law, meaning that there has to be some reasonable cause to believe that you have, or intend to use the picks for some illegal activity. Just carrying my picks in Manitoba does not show intent. Carrying my picks, along with a pillow case, flash light, etc may well be argued to show intent. Also, carrying my picks while trespassing would also be argued to show intent. But the simple act of carrying picks does not usually translate into intent to commit a crime any more than carrying a crow bar, screw driver, or car jack would show intent.

I have not reasearched this at all for the UK, but that is why I asked about the "intent" issue.

db

[sivlogkart]

That would have been my guess, but I think I will look into it too.

The police around Hertforshire, UK, do not think criminals enter houses by picking locks, and if you suggest that they might they say you have been watching too many films etc. They tend to assume an insurance fraud if there is not a sign of forced entry, rather than lockpicking.

I normally think if you are smart enough to pick locks then you could get a better job than a petty thief.

The one time I was stopped in error and found to have lock picks the policeman did not know what they were, which may have be lucky for me, although I was not planning on committing a crime.

KJ

[Chrispy]

Intent is everything.

"Oh my god! That guy's got a gun!"

"He's a Security Officer, he's doing a cash transfer. His intent is to protect the cash in transit. "


"Yes officer, that guy there. I saw him with a crowbar before."

"He's a construction worker. "


"Those people are walking around with baseball bats! They're a gang of thugs!"

"They're on their way to baseball practice."



And so on and so forth.....

[oldlock]

carrying the picks without a good reason is the intent - why else would you have them ????

Paul

This is going to be the train of thought of PC PLOD in the UK - the idea of lockpicking as a hobby would not even occur to him & I doubt he would believe it if you were to suggest it. Even if he did you would have to be pretty convincing as to why you are carrying you hobby tools around with you rather than keeping them at home with all your other hobby stuff ...

I once had a set in a inner pocket on a jacket which went through the metal detector on a internal UK flight - and it was only UK MLA id that saved any major problems (this was pre 9/11)

While the police may not think that any crimes are comitted with lock picks, I would be prepared to bet that it has happened and they have not known it.

Paul

[Chrispy]

Being a member of LSI and presenting a nifty ID card helps a great deal.

[sivlogkart]

The problem comes if you have a hobby that is not generally regarded as one. I have lockpicks as I like solving puzzles, but do not like to work on skills that are basically useless. So I like picking my own locks and have new locks on birthdays from time to time rather than the latest rubic cube type of puzzle.

The police here are normally very dim, so saying all that might not help.

I am also a motorcylist and once with a big group of other bikers we were stopped by the police on one of our fun rides on a Sunday. We were doing nothing wrong and for the last few min were below the speed limit etc. He wanted to know what we were doing and asked for the leader. They said we dont have a leader but a mathematician, who would explain all.

Question 1: Where are you going?

A: We are bikers and unlike car drivers who go from A to B we go from A to A.

Q2: What? You do not know where you are going?

A: We will end where we started. The route is chosen at random by the chap in the front and he is chosen at random too.

Q3: Give me one place on this A to A route.
A: Here for example!

He then said he wished he had not stopped us, which was generally agreed! All that I said was true, but he clearly did not like it.

[Chrispy]

"A mathematician who would explain all."

"Here for example!"

*Sigh* that was funny.

[toomush2drink]

Carry the picks at your own risk as even being caught with a screwdriver in a carpark can get you nicked for going with intent. Why the need to carry them anyway unless your a locksmith ? Mine are always in my toolbox or in my uniform coat which says what i do anyway.

[sivlogkart]

I do not need to carry them quite all the time, but I do teach people to pick locks in a number of places, so have to move them. So given the hint at your job, what would you think if you found someone with lockpicks, as you know that some of use just enjoy the puzzle of opening them, and are not criminals?

KJ

[Chrispy]

So given the hint at your job, what would you think if you found someone with lockpicks, as you know that some of use just enjoy the puzzle of opening them, and are not criminals?

??? He's not a cop. He's a locksmith. (You are a lockie, right toomush? )