Posted By Tracey Kelly
I recently came across the information that in the UK national charity shops have banned over-the-counter sale of knitting needles. Does anyone know if the HSE or IOSH has ever responded to this "elf'n'safety" decision? Or what their logic is?

Posted By Tracey Kelly
Thanks, Martin. I now have a mental image of a gang of grannies wearing hoodies terrorising the streets by brandishing their knitting needles :-)
Tracey

Posted By Lilian McCartney
The charity shops I know don't display on shelves but you can get them if you ask.
They've went down that line to prevent people they don't consider responsible buying them (or I think it was 'taking them')

Lilian

Posted By Graham Bullough
As a slight deviation from or even a development of this thread, I could mention that years ago a fellow student had a penchant for wearing unusual hats which were held in place (well, one at a time) with a sizeable hat pin. She reckoned that if cornered and threatened by anyone, she could grab the pin and wield it in self-defence without fear of being done for carrying an offensive weapon. Goodness knows if she ever had to use it other than as a hat pin.

Some years ago I heard that the caretaker of one of my employer's historic buildings went to it during the night after its security alarm had been triggered. As the building was in a fairly remote setting he took a cudgel-like stick for self-protection in case vandals or thieves were lurking nearby. A policeman also attended and, noticing the stick, advised him that it constituted an offensive weapon. He continued by advising him to replace the stick with a long heavy duty torch - which he would legitimately carry - and that it could still be used for self-defence if necessary in a manner similar to the stick!

To reduce the deviation, I'd better add something about knitting needles: John Harvey Jones in his autobiography mentioned that the experienced and respected captain of the submarine on which he served during WW2 liked to knit during off-duty spells at sea. Although the other officers and the crew considered it an unusual pastime for a man, I can't recall any mention in the book of others being distracted by the noise of the needles which were probably metal ones. As well as providing some creative relaxation, perhaps the captain might have considered that the needles could be used as a weapon as a last resort. However, if he ever did, he would have no problem about offensive weapons, considering the torpedoes and other weapons on his submarine!

Posted By Tracey Kelly
Interesting deviation of the thread (and it's not even Friday)/
I was advised to carry a can of hairspray in my car and perfume in my pocket.

Posted By Andrew Murdy
Just to add to the deviation (as it is Summer)

I met a guy (in America) once who killed a beaver with a Maglite.

It was eating some newly planted trees, so he approached it from behind and hit it. Now, Beavers are big, with sharp teeth.

'Once I hit it, I realised I was committed' was his response on what he felt when it turned around ...

Posted By Lwood
Years ago I had to attend a house to arrest a man, whilst reciting the charge etc. his wife sprung up off the sofa and ran me through with a No 10 knitting needle. She got 4 years for that and I have an interesting story and a small scar!

L