[jwdunne]

To note, this legislation covers a wider array that may shock our American commenters here.

If the police pull you over and find a baseball bat without a ball, you are in violation of the offensive weapons act.

Forget about handguns with legislation like that - which are also illegal but under a separate piece of legislation afaik.

We are less liberal in a lot of ways, both socially and economically but not consistently. In some areas, the reverse

[jamessb]

An offensive weapon is an article made, adapted or intended for causing injury.

Since a baseball bat is not made for causing injury, and is generally not adapted for this purpose (though it might be, e.g. by stacking nails into it), it would be necessary to show that it was possesed with the intention of causing injury. Note that posession for the purpose of 'self-defence' is not a legal defence.

Knives are different - it's an offense to possess a 'bladed' (excluding non-locking knives under 7.62 cm / 3 inches) or 'sharply pointed' article in a public place, even if there is no intent to cause harm, with certain exceptions (lawful authority, for use at work, religious reasons, or national costume).

[jwdunne]

I've seen police officers search for a ball when finding a baseball bat in someone's possession, implying that, without a ball, they consider it an offensive weapon.

This has been in the context of searches based on unrelated suspicions but the strong implication was there i.e "there better be a ball in the car to go with this".

Knives it's much more clear cut there. The baseball bat thing sticks out but to be honest, in the UK, a baseball bat may well be more commonly an offensive weapon than used for sport - the sport is no where near as popular.

I was going to add that I doubt officers would demand to see wickets and ball when finding a cricket bat.

[orf]

Sure, but those laws are not enforced to the letter of the law, but to the 'spirit' of the law. Which means your not going to get arrested for taking your kid and their bat home from practice just because you forgot the ball.

[jwdunne]

Not at all. I've seen this when police are searching cars owned by young drivers without children.

My point was that it can and has been broadly applied. If an officer believes an object is intended to cause harm, you can be arrested for it.

In contrast, the US enshrines gun possession as a basic constitutional right so baseball bats and knives are small fry. This was the comparison I was trying to extend.