4/20/2008

A police night stick is ruled an Offensive weapon in Scotland

The Scottish newspaper the Daily Record has this story:

A STRIPPER'S truncheon is an offensive weapon even though he uses it as a prop in his policeman act, prosecutors claimed yesterday.
Student Stuart Kennedy was hauled into court after two female plain-clothes cops spotted him in a fake police uniform.
They followed him into the Paramount Bar in Aberdeen and watched him perform as "Sergeant Eros" before charging him with carrying offensive weapons, which also included a fake CS cas canister
He was cleared at the city's sheriff court - but yesterday the Crown challenged the ruling at the Appeal Court in Edinburgh.
Sheriff Kenneth Stewart had ruled Stuart's baton and a fake gas spray were "props in an act".
But advocate depute Brian McConnachie, QC, said that was not a "reasonable excuse" as it would allow people dressed up as neds to carry flick-knives.
Judge Lord Johnston said the Crown case "raises points of some importance".
Mr McConnachie said Stuart could have used a toy or replica baton.
He said: "For the purposes of his act, he doesn't require a real police truncheon. . . .


Thanks to Gus Cotey.

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