Scout Knife Safety Policy

1. Scouts must only bring a knife to a Scouting activity or camp when instructed to do so by a leader.
2. Upon arrival to a Scouting activity or camp, all knives must be handed to a leader for safekeeping.
3. Scouts must gain permission from a leader before collecting and using their knife.
4. Scouts who do not have their Knife, Axe and Saw (KAS) licence can only use their knife (including an axe or saw) under the direct supervision of a leader.
5. Scouts who have their KAS licence have demonstrated that they can be trusted to use a knife safely and so can use a knife without the direct instruction of a leader, but must have permission to use the knife.
6. When transporting a knife to training at HQ, a camp or other event, Scouts should have their knife securely stored in the middle of a rucksack.
7. A knife should never be carried in a pocket or taken to a location other than for Scouting based activities.

UK knife law allows you to carry non-locking pocket knives with a blade length up to 3 inches (7.62 cm) without any need for a valid reason.

You are allowed to carry a knife which exceeds these guidelines in public, but please remember: you then do need a good reason to carry it. www.gov.uk has the following to say on good reasons to carry a knife:

Examples of good reasons to carry a knife in public can include:

• taking knives you use at work to and from work
• taking knives to a gallery or museum to be exhibited
• the knife is going to be used for theatre, film, television, historical re-enactment or religious purposes, eg the kirpan some Sikhs carry

A court will decide if you’ve got a good reason to carry a knife if you’re charged with carrying it illegally.