An American tourist vacationing in the UK was arrested after locals reported a man carrying a kitchen knife on the beach, and gave police a bizarre explanation for having the weapon on him.
The knife-wielding tourist was apprehended on April 3 at Hampton seafront near Herne Bay, Kent Online reported.
He told police he comes from an open-carry state, where carrying a gun is legal, and he was unaware of UK laws prohibiting public knife possession without 'good reason.'
According to UK law, acceptable reasons might include work, religious practices, or cultural attire—but personal safety at the beach isn't one of them.
In fact, the UK boasts a far lower rate of stabbing deaths than the US, and a lower homicide rate. The US has 6.81 homicides for every 100,000 people, while the UK has 1.17.
"The knife was seized and, following consideration of the circumstances, the matter was dealt with by a community resolution, during which the law was fully explained to him," a Kent Police spokesperson said.
In the UK, carrying a knife in public can result in a prison sentence of up to four years. In the US, while several states have restrictions on certain knives, knife-carrying for self-defense is generally permitted.
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