Man carrying home his gardening tools arrested by armed police in Manchester

[Fishrrman]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/28/man-allotment-gardening-tools-arrest-armed-police-manchester

Man carrying home his gardening tools arrested by armed police in Manchester
7/28/2025
Hannah Al-Othman



A man who had returned home from his allotment with a trug of vegetables and gardening tools strapped to his belt was arrested by armed police, after a member of the public said they had seen “a man wearing khaki clothing and in possession of a knife”.

Samuel Rowe, 35, who works as a technical manager at a theatre, had come back from his allotment in Manchester earlier this month and decided to trim his hedge with one of his tools, a Japanese garden sickle, when police turned up on his doorstep.

“I just heard shouting behind me, and then two armed officers shouting at me to drop the knife,” he said. “And then they turned me around, pushed me up against my house, cuffed me, and then they arrested me, put me in the back of the van.”

The tools he had on his belt, he said, were a Niwaki Hori Hori gardening trowel in a canvas sheath, and an Ice Bear Japanese gardener’s sickle.

When he was arrested, Rowe said, the officer pulled the trowel out of its sheath, and said: “That’s not a garden tool.”

“I said it is, because it was in the Niwaki-branded pouch that you get at garden centres,” Rowe said.

More at URL above...

[mountaineer]

As long as he didn't say anything negative about Muslims on social media, he should be fine. Otherwise, it will be at least two years in the gaol.

[andy58-in-nh]

The sun is about to set on what's left of the British Empire.

[Timber Rattler]

British cops are probably some of the stupidest on the planet.

[mountaineer]

The sun is about to set on what's left of the British Empire.

'Today highlighted yet again that Britain is a lion of a country, run by a pussycat of a man' - and there's no free speech.

https://twitter.com/GBNEWS/status/1949938413102141888

[roamer_1]

To be fair, an hori hori is technically a 'trowel', but other than a concavity running down the center of the blade, it could also be called a Bowie knife:



Now, as one who has carried a Bowie most of my life, Not to mention 3 more knives in my EDC that would be illegal in Britain, The idea of knives of any sort being illegal to carry is just ludicrous.

Even here in the states there are some places where that bowie and the big folding knife I carry would be illegal, and I cannot carry any on mass transit. - All that is just as retarded as the Brits...

But given the parameters, and the scope of the law, the cop was not exactly mistaken.

[Sighlass]

I am not entirely sure, but I think the "perp" was a hobbit. Now a defenseless one at that, if only he had his ring. The Prime Minister must be Sauron... 

[Free Vulcan]

I am not entirely sure, but I think the "perp" was a hobbit. Now a defenseless one at that, if only he had his ring. The Prime Minister must be Sauron...

Looks like Samwise's cousin thrice removed on his mother's side. Maybe some Hornblower or Bracegirdle in there.

[MeganC]

British cops are probably some of the stupidest on the planet.

And when the British people rise up and start slaughtering their costumed oppressors I will not shed one single tear for those tyrants.

Sic semper tyrannus.

[Smokin Joe]

To be fair, an hori hori is technically a 'trowel', but other than a concavity running down the center of the blade, it could also be called a Bowie knife:



Now, as one who has carried a Bowie most of my life, Not to mention 3 more knives in my EDC that would be illegal in Britain, The idea of knives of any sort being illegal to carry is just ludicrous.

Even here in the states there are some places where that bowie and the big folding knife I carry would be illegal, and I cannot carry any on mass transit. - All that is just as retarded as the Brits...

But given the parameters, and the scope of the law, the cop was not exactly mistaken.

I think that's a lovely trowel. 

[mountaineer]

Britain really have gone quite mad. Now they're contemplating banning VPNs as part of their massive crackdown on free speech. Free speech and gardening tools, the scourge of the realm.

PeterSweden
@PeterSweden7
BREAKING: British media is now reporting that authorities could BAN the use of VPNs.
This comes after a massive surge in VPN use after the new draconian "Online Safety Bill" has been censoring the internet.
What's going on???
9:36 AM · Jul 28, 2025

[Fishrrman]

"BREAKING: British media is now reporting that authorities could BAN the use of VPNs.
This comes after a massive surge in VPN use after the new draconian "Online Safety Bill" has been censoring the internet.
What's going on???"

1984.
Gettin' closer.
Orwell's warning, made real.

That's what's "going on"...

[roamer_1]

I think that's a lovely trowel. 

That's right.  Plant your posies and fight off a griz... All in one tool.

For realz, in my life as a landscaper and lawn guy, I had a couple of those on the truck... There just ain't no better for planting annuals.  Japs do handsaws better than we do too... They work on the draw instead of the push... way better.

[MeganC]

'Today highlighted yet again that Britain is a lion of a country, run by a pussycat of a man' - and there's no free speech.

The UK has free speech. Just like the Soviet Union did.

And like the Soviet Union the UK doesn't have freedom after speech. 

[MeganC]

I think that's a lovely trowel. 

I ordered one! $22 on Amazon! 

[Smokin Joe]

I ordered one! $22 on Amazon! 

Me, too!