Scotland

A senior police officer says he fears for his son's safety because of the problem of knife-carrying in Scotland.( Audio News).
Nth Ireland Tough measures to reduce knife crime, under a proposed new law.
Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins said the powers "cover any implement that has a blade or point or that may be deemed as an offensive weapon". He said public protection was the government's top priority.
Also items such as Samurai swords , added to the list of offensive weapons. The legislative proposals being announced on Thursday would mean a maximum four-year sentence for the following offences:

Having a knife in a public place or on school premises;

• Possession of an offensive weapon;
• Selling a knife to a person under the age of 18;
• Manufacture or sale of certain knives (flick or gravity knives);
• Unlawful marketing and publications connected with the marketing of knives;
• Manufacture or sale of a flick knife or gravity knife;
• Sale or possession of a crossbow to someone under the age of 18.

And in England and Wales. Thats the whole of the United Kingdom. No doubt we should all applaud this move. On the surface it would appear to cover the entire population with one exception. Now who could that be? Why anyone named Singh (Saint) otherwise know as a Sikh a member of Khalsa which is The "Akal Purakh de fauj" (The Army of God. ) Thanks to Eire's Green Party Government member
Ciaran Cuffee, ciaran.cuffe@oireachtas.ie TD for lumping us in as British and supporting Sikhism in Ireland and sending this English PARLIAMENT LAW STATUTE FOR US TO ABIDE UNDER

In the United Kingdom it is legal under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (section 139) and Offensive Weapons Act 1996 (section 3 and 4) for a Sikh to carry a kirpan with a blade for religious reasons (other reasons allowed by the Act are cultural or work related reasons). The Criminal Justice Act 1988 safeguards the rights of the Sikhs to carry the Kirpan as it is deemed a necessary part of their religion. You might be interested in more information about Sikhs in Ireland on http://www.irishsikhcouncil.com/
Sikh population: 336,179