Abu Dhabi: Students carrying pocket knives and other melee weapons may find themselves being prosecuted for possession, according to a new law that is currently under discussion.
Current law only prosecutes those using cold weapons such as knives, swords, daggers and trauma-inflicting tools such as clubs and bats that may cause physical harm on other individuals, judicial experts said.
“However, in a bid to reduce the amount of injuries sustained during school brawls which normally see the use of these types of dangerous objects, we are planning on amending the law. It is now being looked at by the General Attorney’s office,” said Counsellor Mohammad Rashid Al Danhani, Head of Abu Dhabi Family Prosecution.
Counsellor Ali Al Abbadi, said that laws are regularly checked and amended in order to keep up with the development of technologies and the context of the world around them.
“We have been seeing knives and similar tools being used among the youth,” he said. Al Danhani added that this is on the rise. “So naturally, there would be several reasons why a law punishing individuals for the possession of such dangerous items would be implemented,” he said.
However, the amendment would have to clarify what contexts classify this possession as a threat to individuals’ lives, causing it to be illegal.
Specific places
“Some people might want to take regular cutlery items from their homes to picnics for example because they feel more comfortable using them than plastic knives. Therefore a context banning individuals from carrying certain, clearly identified types of knives in specific places such as schools, shopping centres and universities, has to be stated,” Fayza Mousa, a legal expert told Gulf News. “At any rate, it should be circulated and announced in newspapers across the capital if the law was to be implemented or rectified,” she added.
Parents across the capital are lauding these efforts, adding that children in schools should be aware of why carrying these items might pose a threat to them and to those around them.
“Pupils’ bags should be inspected regularly, and students should be encouraged to notify school authorities whenever they spot someone violating these rules by hiding blade or a knife with them. Awareness lectures at school campuses would also be very helpful in shedding light on this issue,” said A.K., a 50 year-old Executive Secretary and mother of three boys.
In 2013, 936 pieces of cold weapons were seized at Dubai Airports, while 1,960 pieces were seized in two shipments at Jebel Ali Customs Centre. Items seized included knives, swords and “ring box” metal pieces, Dubai Customs stated.
