EDC for a hightened security area?

[munchh]

I have not been on for a bit, just life and stuff, i also hadnt thought about checking the forum when Paris happened and then the next day just up the road from me, they evacuate Gatwick north terminal for a bloke with a knife and an air gun!

So i got on in the end, because i started thinking about getting stuck out amongst what has been going on.

So my senario is, you find yourself in an area where security is being ramped up, people may be having bags searched in places you would never have had to worry about it.

How much of what you carry would be questioned, or mabie even get you in trouble, i know we all know the laws around what you can have with you, but i wonder what would become not ok in the authorities eyes if you were stopped?

I cant help thinking that if you found yourself in amongst this sort of thing with your normal get home bag, would it even make you look like someone who is preppered to hold out for a period of time and if so would that be a good or bad thing?

Am i thinking too much, or does it change everything, i bet im not the only one who has had a work colleague call them Mcgyver, because them see your van bag!

i commented on questioning my EDC a while back, but to be honest ive not had time to review it properly so it still just the same.

[metatron]

I carry what is within the law, it takes months to change the law but govs do like knee jerk reaction. Even if the police don't like something, it really doesn't matter, the way the country is run isn't based on what they like, but the enforcement of laws created by an elected government. You may not like those laws or the government at any given time but its tyranny of the majority, as they say in On Liberty.

If the laws change, I'll change my EDC until then if the police have a issue with it they can jog on.

[dangerman]

I've been thinking about this a lot too. There are places where it's just anti-social to carry even legal EDC things. So I've been mulling over what one could take, for example, through airport security that would be useful should in various situations.

Knife is obviously a no go. And probably anything that could be weaponised, or looks like it's likely to be.

But honestly, when I think about it, a lot of being prepared over here is much about keeping your head down and waiting for things to blow over.

So I've been using my imminent trip to Barcelona as an exercise in bringing the right things that I might need to keep warm, keep fed, keep watered and keep dry. Also anything that would help me from getting lost or finding myself stranded, or would help me if that still happened.

I'm thinking I'll be keeping a lot of the same kit with me as I took to my concert the other weekend, but a bit more beefed up. More food, more ways to keep warm including a wool jumper in my bag (or a hoody or whatever) and hat & gloves. Might even bring my Sawyer mini with me.

At the end of the day, the most likely thing that could ever happen is something similar to Shaun of the Dead, and I intend to do similar to what he did.

[Yorkshire Andy]

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At the end of the day, the most likely thing that could ever happen is something similar to Shaun of the Dead, and I intend to do similar to what he did.

Can't fault that logic our local does handpull ale and has a open fire...

We have a "regulars buffet" on Sunday where everyone fetches a few nibbles be it a big bag of crisps a pack of cream crackers bit of cheese or a small cooked meat pack.... And mrs andy moans I don't eat my cooked dinner.... . But it brings people together and forges new friendships

[Arzosah]

The only thing that I have that *looks* aggressive is my CKRT seatbelt cutter - http://www.edcgear.co.uk/ProductDetails ... de=CR2055K especially as the mad little plastic cap fell off within a month or so. I used to have a pretty pink thing, but it was plastic, and it broke in two

This is something I wonder about ... even if you're well within the law, what you carry can *look* bad, and if there's an incident, everyone's on hair trigger responses. You might not get the time to say "oh, thats a seatbelt cutter, in case I get trapped in a car accident" ... you might not.

As far as more extras are concerned ... water, I'd think. Remember the photos of 9/11, those officers workers covered in crap? Some of the people in Paris were covered in blood, and it turned out to be other people's, they'd been lying amongst bodies, poor things but if you managed to keep the water in a bottle on your belt, for instance, you might want to use it to see if you'd been hit as well - with the adrenalin kicking in, you wouldn't necessarily realise for a while.

[yorkshirewolf]

I think on the off chance you are searched by Mr Plod in an emergency and you were found to have EDC kit with you (including a uk legal carry knife) the most important thing would be your attitude;

Come across as a wannabe Rambo, survivalist, urban ninja nutter and you'll be well on the way to having stuff seized and a night in a cell, but coming across as calm, confident, collected, educated and responsible and you'd probably be fine.

I've spoken to Police at the gate of a field on a road (they were parked in the gateway) whilst carrying a rifle and had no issues about what i was upto, yet i've seen people pulled for just acting shifty but carrying nothing of note.

If you're getting pulled for a search in an emergency situation, chances are you're doing something to arouse suspicion...

[Arzosah]

The attitude thing is very true, absolutely, thats a good point.

Being searched - sometimes *everyone* gets searched - terrorists might masquerade as released hostages, to try to escape - you often see photos of hostages being escorted to safety and they've got their hands clasped over their heads, until the security people are sure they're safe.

Handbags etc were being comprehensively searched until comparatively recently in museums etc, and when the IRA were active, when I went to pubs the male friends I was with were patted down too. Still happens with flying, of course.

And you don't have to be doing anything wrong - I wasn't in an emergency situation, thats true, but I had a good one a few years ago. I went on Eurostar, and I was pulled over, my bag was completely unpacked, I had to stand three paces back from the table, and stay completely still. I found it really interesting, because of course I knew there was nothing problematic in there. Turns out they'd picked me up with the Xray of the bag because it was all packed so tidily, it actually looked like a bomb! And the metal of my collapsible umbrella looked part of it ...

[Deeps]

The attitude thing is very true, absolutely, thats a good point.

Being searched - sometimes *everyone* gets searched - terrorists might masquerade as released hostages, to try to escape - you often see photos of hostages being escorted to safety and they've got their hands clasped over their heads, until the security people are sure they're safe.

Handbags etc were being comprehensively searched until comparatively recently in museums etc, and when the IRA were active, when I went to pubs the male friends I was with were patted down too. Still happens with flying, of course.

And you don't have to be doing anything wrong - I wasn't in an emergency situation, thats true, but I had a good one a few years ago. I went on Eurostar, and I was pulled over, my bag was completely unpacked, I had to stand three paces back from the table, and stay completely still. I found it really interesting, because of course I knew there was nothing problematic in there. Turns out they'd picked me up with the Xray of the bag because it was all packed so tidily, it actually looked like a bomb! And the metal of my collapsible umbrella looked part of it ...

Certainly in Scotland, if you take a handbag to a football match it will be searched, Mrs Deeps tends not to take one now if she can avoid it.

[yorkshirewolf]

To clarify my post a little - attitude and appearance is more what i was getting at...

My wife returned from a morning run with the dogs recently and said she'd seen a bloke acting 'properly dodgy' near the local school, how do you define dodgy? here's her answer;

He was stood at the school fence looking in across the schoolyard, no kids in the yard, he kept turning his head and looking to see where my wife was as she approached, but as soon as she made eye contact he ducked his head and looked away. As she got closer he started to walk away at speed, but kept looking back at her, as she got closer he started to jog slowly away, still looking around at where she was, he eventually got further down the road and ducked into a doorway, doing his best to turn away from her to hide his face.

She passed him, had her run and that was it.

Now, was this guy just a mentally ill paranoid person? was he just nervy at seeing two big dogs running with a lady? or was he a local sex offender?

Maybe he was none of the above, and the reason for his behavior is just not known.

Thing is, if he'd just stayed where he was and ignored my wife or looked her and said 'morning' she'd have gone past and not thought anything at all, it's doubtful she'd have even remembered him.

So to get to the original topic, if you're carrying something which could be construed as a weapon, or something that most people might consider 'odd' and acting 'properly dodgy' there's a good chance you're going to get noticed by either Mr Plod, or reported by a member of the public.

Personally i've entered lots of buildings carrying a knife, or something that could be used as a weapon and never had a problem, even went into court once with a Tool Logic card in my wallet and they didn't check my wallet because it was put in the tray with my watch (that was a pure slip of the mind, i didn't even think about it being in there!)
Maybe the fact I was wearing a suit helped, maybe it was my relaxed attitude. Would they have done a more comprehensive search if i'd been wearing combat trousers with a camo jacket and military boots? or a tracksuit and a big gold chain around my neck?

We all judge people based on their appearance, what they're wearing, their mannerisms, even by their clothing labels, and from that we stereotype who that person is and what they're like. All i'd say is; take a look in the mirror at yourself, clear your mind and think: what would i think if i saw this person? how would i judge them?

So god forbid anyone is in a situation like Paris, and there are police everywhere randomly searching people, will the guy in the suit with a briefcase be first on the list? or will the guy wearing combats, a shemagh and a pouch on his belt? And lets say that both are carrying a multi tool and a first-aid kit, who will the police believe when they say; 'It's for work emergencies, I'm a first-aider'

Long post it know, but all stuff i think is relevant to carrying things which are non-conventional.

[munchh]

Metatron, i get your point totaly and yes i too carry within the law and i wont stop, unlike a friend who has an asp on his belt because we work in london through the night, it makes him feel safe, but it will get him locked up!

But i think im thinking about more than anything that could be deamed as a weapon.

Im thinking that looking like you are prepared for the long hawl during or after a hostage situation, could become questionable in its self!

like i say, probly over thinking it.