An American tourist walking along a seafront sparked a huge police response after “not knowing” he couldn’t carry a knife in public. Multiple police officers descended on Hampton seafront near Herne Bay, Kent, on April 3, at around 10.30am following reports of the man listening to UB40 while armed with a kitchen knife.
However, when officers quizzed the subject, it emerged that he was from a US state where gun-carrying was commonplace – and had not understood UK laws around “possession of weapons”.
He was dealt with via a “community resolution” – where the law was explained to him. A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Officers attended and a man, who is a US citizen and was on holiday in the area, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife. “In interview, the man made a full admission to possessing the knife in public and explained he had not understood UK law around possession of weapons.
“The knife was seized and, following consideration of the circumstances, the matter was dealt with by a community resolution, during which the law was fully explained to him.”
A photo shows the dramatic moment four officers arrived on the scene following the reports last Thursday.
A witness – who was walking his dog in the area at the time – described how everything unfolded. He said: “It was quite strange. I was just walking the dog along the seafront and saw a man relaxing on the grass verge listening to UB40 on his phone.
“I carried on walking and when I turned around, I noticed a police car at the bottom of Swalecliffe Avenue and two police officers talking to him. But then another two officers arrived.”
In the UK, it is illegal to carry most knives or any weapons in public without a ‘good reason’. It is also illegal to sell most knives or any weapons to anyone under the age of 18. The maximum sentence for an adult carrying a knife or weapon illegally is four years in prison.
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