pool cue

[hagrid1]

if a person is carrying a pool cue to make it ,ook like they have just came from a pub playing pool and they encounter 2 people whom they believe to have had a problem with would the pool cue be classed as a weapon

[Lonnie]

Its a bit of a grey area as to what constitutes a weapon, In your case, just carrying it, then no, but if you used it as such, then yes, and the police would soon find out if you'd been to a pool club or not. In reality, almost anything you can think of can be used as a weapon.

[WoWo]

Lonnie is exactly right, the definition of a weapon is a little wooly when not directly used as one. But as soon as you use any object to hit somebody with it becomes a weapon.

[Grunty]

An offensive weapon can be one of three things. 1) Something constructed as one e.g. knuckleduster. 2) Something adapted as one, e.g. metal comb sharpened. 3) Something which is legal to possess but is then used as a weapon, e.g. a walking stick or a can of hairspray.

In your example it is legal to carry the pool cue, but it becomes an offensive weapon as soon as it is used offensively.

[noxlumos]

Don't do it:)

[Ward-Minter]

I disagree with the above.

The pool cue is offensive as it is the "intent" of the posseser. The mens rea (guilty knowledge) is the key here.Grunty is almost there but for his third one.

1) Made

2) Adapted

3) INTENDED.

Further you can't go "tooled up" in "just in case scenarios".

It will not matter whether the weapon is used or not, otherwise the crimes of various degrees of assault would be negated. For example, if I hit somebody with a knuckle duster and break their jaw. I would NOT be charged with GBH and Possession of an offensive weapon, just the GBH.

perhaps the lovely january bug, who seems to be the most up to date with law can back me up?

[lightoftruth]

why cant it be like ancient japan where everyone just carried swords. So much simpler

[Grunty]

Yes W-M is right. The slip on my part was to say used instead of intended, although the only way to prove intent is usually when it is used.

I didn't mention knives, but this was not the subject of the question.

[joko]

I think the police are wise to this 'oh-so-clever' little ploy. They've heard every trick in the book and I doubt you could fool them. Besides only real pool enthusiasts, members of the team etc, have their own cue and take it to the pub with them.

[Gef]

Any serious player would have a cue which unscrewed into 2 or 3 parts which fitted nicely into a small case.