Police to Enforce Edge Tools Legislation

Chester Williams

Earlier you heard the Commissioner of Police share that the three most commonly used weapons to commit murders in 2019 were firearms, knives and machetes. Well, going into 2020, ComPol says that his officers will be enforcing the edge tools legislation that is on the books. Here’s how he explains it.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Under the summary jurisdiction offences act, going equipped or possession of article with blade and under the crime control and criminal justices act, we have possession of article with blade and once you are found with a knife or machete that blades measure more than three inches between the hours of eight p.m. and five a.m., then you can be charged for possession of an article with blade.”

Reporter

“And what does enforcement look like for that right now in the department?”

Chester Williams

“Well, for the most part I have been harping it to commanders to enforce but we are not getting the enforcement at the level we would want to. So, my instructions today is to ensure that we put that at the forefront of our priorities in terms of going after persons who are consuming alcohol and are in possession of edge tools. We want to look at those who primarily hang out in front of shops or liquor establishments and consume alcohol and right beside them have a bicycle with a machete on it or with a knife in the scabbard on the side. We have to ensure that we deal with those this year.”