letter for heath bunting, regarding his arrest on september 7 2001 for
possession of a bladed article

On the day of his arrest, Heath was accompanying me to a Home Office
interview in Croydon. At 9am we entered the building and were searched
by metal detector and X-Ray security. A guard siezed my pocket knife
which I was openly carrying in my bag. I told the guard that the knife
was mine and that I carry it in support of my work. The guard announced
his intention to call the police. He ordered me to remain in the building. 
Heath was told he was free to leave if he chose.

When the police arrived over an hour later, Heath accompanied me into
the interview room and the police immediately turned their attention to
him. The officers treated him with extreme suspicion, although later
reporting that his behaviour was cooperative and unthreatening. When Heath
declared possession of a pocket knife, we were both handcuffed and taken 
to Croydon police station, where we were processed separately.

My knife had been in my possession for 6 years. It was a good-quality 
stainless steel folding knife, bought in a hardware store in Spain.

As an artist I travel regularly for work. In the past 3 years I have
worked on projects in a number of cities largely in the UK and USA -
also Greece, Finland, Netherlands, Latvia, Australia and Germany. 
This work tends to require a high degree of mobility and technical 
self-sufficiency in projects ranging from model plane assembly to
radio-electronics and computer network installation. At the time of 
the arrest I was en route from Bristol to Newcastle, where I was 
employed by the Northern Arts Board as technical consultant on a
community webcasting project.

I travel with a basic kit of versatile equipment: the police inventory
of my possessions 7/9/01 included a digital multimeter, torch, fork,
miniature screwdrivers, 9V batteries, toothbrush, alarm clock, sewing kit,
folding mirror. I was informed that the seized knife was illegal both
due to its length [3 1/2 inches] and its locking ability - ie. that any
knife that locks open, regardless of size, is illegal to carry in public
in the UK. I was also carrying a 2nd folding knife - Opinel brand,
3 inch blade, sold in specialty hardware and camping stores in the UK -
which the police returned to me as "entirely ok" as it "doesn't lock"
- not accurate but I chose not to point this out.

The confiscated knife I used regularly as a wire cutter/screwdriver in
electronics and cable assembly; also for the preparation of in-transit
food. Over the past 6 years I have taken it on more than 30 international
flights, either in checked luggage or separately boxed by airline staff
who return it on landing. It has been approved as a non-offensive
personal tool by police officers in the USA [not a flick knife therefore
legal]; I have also handed it in to security staff on entrance to government 
buildings and US embassies in Australia and had it politely returned on exit.

On this occasion, after intensive officer intimidation, 8 hours in Croydon 
lockup and high pressure from the public solicitor, I accepted a police 
caution [5-year police record for possession of a bladed article] with 
extreme reluctance. As a non-EU citizen without secure residency status in 
the UK, I was not confident to commit to a lengthy process in the English 
courts.

I fully support Heath in his decision to defend himself in court on this
charge.

Kate Rich  
25.12.01