Letter: Knife dilemma wrapped up

Knife dilemma wrapped up

Sir: The problem of defining knives lies not so much in the description of the knife as in the apparent intention of unlawful usage ("Knives ban is a deal too far for PM", 25 October).

If I, as a housewife, am carrying home a new kitchen knife which I have purchased, and that knife is in a plastic sheath and also a wrapping applied by the retailer, and probably also in a plastic carrier bag, there is no way in which I could be reasonably accused of carrying an offensive weapon.

But if I were to remove that knife from all its wrappings and conceal it about my person in a readily available position for use as an attacking weapon, then I am guilty.

JEAN G McLEOD

Andover,

Hampshire