Nuneaton resident Anthony Bray, 48, was arrested by Warwickshire Police on June 8th, 2024, for possessing a “bladed article” in public that was sharp enough to be used for violence or intimidation- a point that Bray acknowledged during his confrontation with the police. He also remarked that the 6-inch replica of the “blade of evil’s bane” from The Legend of Zelda was a fidget toy, but officers explained that the properties of the toy’s blade, and more critically, his behaviour, nonetheless violated law.
Warwickshire Police published a press release on July 2, reporting on the incident and including a statement from Sergeant Fern Spellman of the Patrol Investigation Unit:
“We take a zero tolerance to bladed articles in public, and Bray has fallen afoul of this. It is possible to find fidget toys that aren’t six-inch blades. It is possible not to walk down the street holding them out in front of you. With a bit more self-awareness, Bray could have avoided contact with us completely.”
The United Kingdom prohibits carrying knives or weapons in public without “good reason,” i.e. for work or for cultural reasons, but enforcement varies depending on the type of knife and the length of its cutting edge. July 4th is election day in the UK, and its two main political parties, Labour and Conservative, have both made slashing knife crime rates a part of their respective agendas.
Bray, as reported by Forbes, has a history of criminal offenses and had previously served time for burglary.
According to the police report, Bray will be paying a victims’ surcharge of £154, or roughly $196, in addition to serving four months in jail.
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