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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Library 'scissor ban' is 'absurd' | Library 'scissor ban' is 'absurd' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A north London council has apologised after a woman was refused the loan of a pair of scissors in a library because she "might stab a member of staff". | A north London council has apologised after a woman was refused the loan of a pair of scissors in a library because she "might stab a member of staff". |
| Lorna Watts, 26, a self-employed dressmaker, was turned down at Holborn Library in central London. | Lorna Watts, 26, a self-employed dressmaker, was turned down at Holborn Library in central London. |
| She said: "It's ridiculous - public libraries are supposed to be supportive of small businesses." | She said: "It's ridiculous - public libraries are supposed to be supportive of small businesses." |
| A spokeswoman for Camden Council, which runs the library, has apologised and said it would investigate the incident. | A spokeswoman for Camden Council, which runs the library, has apologised and said it would investigate the incident. |
| Ms Watts, from Islington, north London, said: "I asked why I couldn't borrow a pair of scissors and she said, 'they are sharp, you might stab me'. | Ms Watts, from Islington, north London, said: "I asked why I couldn't borrow a pair of scissors and she said, 'they are sharp, you might stab me'. |
| "I then asked to borrow a guillotine to cut up my leaflets but she refused again - because she said I could hit her over the head with it!" | "I then asked to borrow a guillotine to cut up my leaflets but she refused again - because she said I could hit her over the head with it!" |
| 'Absurd' policy | 'Absurd' policy |
| She added: "It's absurd - there are plenty of heavy books I could have hit her with if I wanted to. | She added: "It's absurd - there are plenty of heavy books I could have hit her with if I wanted to. |
| "I hardly look very threatening - it's really sad she could not make a commonsense judgement." | "I hardly look very threatening - it's really sad she could not make a commonsense judgement." |
| The businesswoman then visited another three libraries in north London but her request was rejected in each of them. | The businesswoman then visited another three libraries in north London but her request was rejected in each of them. |
| A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said there was no policy in place on lending sharp implements. | A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said there was no policy in place on lending sharp implements. |
| "People know their own workplaces and must carry out their own risk assessments", she said. | |
| "But we do ask workplaces to take a common sense approach. | "But we do ask workplaces to take a common sense approach. |
| "This could be a case of someone misinterpreting the rules." | "This could be a case of someone misinterpreting the rules." |
| A Camden Council spokeswoman said: "We are sorry we have not reached our usual high standards. We will investigate fully as soon as possible." | A Camden Council spokeswoman said: "We are sorry we have not reached our usual high standards. We will investigate fully as soon as possible." |