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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gardener 'given no choice' over trowel arrest caution | Gardener 'given no choice' over trowel arrest caution |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Samuel Rowe says he felt he had to accept a police caution because there was no solicitor available | Samuel Rowe says he felt he had to accept a police caution because there was no solicitor available |
| A man who was cautioned for carrying a bladed trowel in public has said he was given no choice but to accept the reprimand because police were unable to contact a solicitor for him. | A man who was cautioned for carrying a bladed trowel in public has said he was given no choice but to accept the reprimand because police were unable to contact a solicitor for him. |
| Armed police were sent to challenge Samuel Rowe as he walked home from his allotment in Chorlton, Manchester, carrying the tool, a peeling knife and a sickle. | Armed police were sent to challenge Samuel Rowe as he walked home from his allotment in Chorlton, Manchester, carrying the tool, a peeling knife and a sickle. |
| The 35-year-old theatre manager said he was held for 12 hours, before being told he had to accept the caution without representation or face longer in custody. | The 35-year-old theatre manager said he was held for 12 hours, before being told he had to accept the caution without representation or face longer in custody. |
| Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Mr Rowe had admitted possessing a "dagger" and was given a conditional caution, which entailed advice about the law on the carrying of bladed weapons in public. | Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said Mr Rowe had admitted possessing a "dagger" and was given a conditional caution, which entailed advice about the law on the carrying of bladed weapons in public. |
| The keen gardener said he was terrified when the armed officers, who did not draw their weapons, arrived outside his home on 3 July. | The keen gardener said he was terrified when the armed officers, who did not draw their weapons, arrived outside his home on 3 July. |
| He said the officers were shouting at him to "drop the knife". | He said the officers were shouting at him to "drop the knife". |
| "I said I didn't have a knife and they told me to drop the knife again," he said. | "I said I didn't have a knife and they told me to drop the knife again," he said. |
| "So I dropped my Japanese hand gardening sickle and a handful of privet that I just cut off the hedge. | "So I dropped my Japanese hand gardening sickle and a handful of privet that I just cut off the hedge. |
| "They turned me around, pushed me up against my house, handcuffed me, then put me in the back of a van." | "They turned me around, pushed me up against my house, handcuffed me, then put me in the back of a van." |
| 'Out of sight' | 'Out of sight' |
| Mr Rowe said he was questioned by police while in custody and it "felt like they'd gone out that day expecting to catch some kind of lone wolf attacker". | Mr Rowe said he was questioned by police while in custody and it "felt like they'd gone out that day expecting to catch some kind of lone wolf attacker". |
| "I was doing nothing wrong," he said. | "I was doing nothing wrong," he said. |
| "They treated me like I had been doing harm to people." | "They treated me like I had been doing harm to people." |
| Mr Rowe was carrying a Japanese-made trowel in its sheath, a small Japanese gardener's sickle and a peeling knife, along with a trug of vegetables. | |
| He said the peeling knife was his late grandmother's, the sickle had been purchased a decade ago and the trowel, which has a short blade and wooden handle, was a present. | He said the peeling knife was his late grandmother's, the sickle had been purchased a decade ago and the trowel, which has a short blade and wooden handle, was a present. |
| He added that he had not been aware of any warnings about carrying the tools in public. | He added that he had not been aware of any warnings about carrying the tools in public. |
| However, since his arrest, a warning has appeared on the trowel manufacturer's website. | However, since his arrest, a warning has appeared on the trowel manufacturer's website. |
| It said customers needed "to familiarise themselves with offensive weapons law before carrying the tool in public". | It said customers needed "to familiarise themselves with offensive weapons law before carrying the tool in public". |
| "We strongly advise that you keep this tool concealed, sheathed, and out of sight in public places – preferably in a gardening bag or toolbox rather than on your belt," it added. | "We strongly advise that you keep this tool concealed, sheathed, and out of sight in public places – preferably in a gardening bag or toolbox rather than on your belt," it added. |
| Mr Rowe was carrying the trowel in its sheath on his gardening belt | Mr Rowe was carrying the trowel in its sheath on his gardening belt |
| Mr Rowe said he had gone without any legal representation while in custody because officers had been unable to contact a solicitor for him. | Mr Rowe said he had gone without any legal representation while in custody because officers had been unable to contact a solicitor for him. |
| He said he accepted a conditional caution, but was now worried it could affect his job at a theatre, where he sometimes had to work with vulnerable young people. | He said he accepted a conditional caution, but was now worried it could affect his job at a theatre, where he sometimes had to work with vulnerable young people. |
| Cautions are given to people on the basis that they admit an offence, but do not count as a criminal conviction. | Cautions are given to people on the basis that they admit an offence, but do not count as a criminal conviction. |
| Some simple cautions are spent as soon as they are accepted, but others could be flagged up on standard and enhanced Disclosure Barring Service checks. | Some simple cautions are spent as soon as they are accepted, but others could be flagged up on standard and enhanced Disclosure Barring Service checks. |
| Mr Rowe said he did not believe he had "committed a crime" and called for his caution to be rescinded. | Mr Rowe said he did not believe he had "committed a crime" and called for his caution to be rescinded. |
| He added that he understood the police had a job to do but was now scared to continue with what had been a lifelong hobby. | He added that he understood the police had a job to do but was now scared to continue with what had been a lifelong hobby. |
| GMP said officers were responding to a call that a man had been seen with a knife. | GMP said officers were responding to a call that a man had been seen with a knife. |
| "He was subsequently stopped and a small sickle, a large dagger which was in a sheath on a belt, and a peeling knife, were seized," the force said. | "He was subsequently stopped and a small sickle, a large dagger which was in a sheath on a belt, and a peeling knife, were seized," the force said. |
| "He admitted the offence and was given a conditional caution, which entailed advice and guidance around the legislation of knives and bladed weapons in a public place." | "He admitted the offence and was given a conditional caution, which entailed advice and guidance around the legislation of knives and bladed weapons in a public place." |
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