'Going equipped' isn't the issue here. If you were charged with (say) a conspiracy to commit criminal damage and you had in your possession - at the time of committing said damage or in order to enable you to do so - (say) a hammer then you would fall foul of S3(a) of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.ArthurWankspittle wrote:I understood there were a few other elements which would concur with your information. I heard of a situation years back where someone was arrested for several burglary and related offences, one of which was "going equipped" as he was found in possession of a screwdriver. Now, if several burglaries were done by someone prising windows open with a screwdriver or similar tool, and the possessor of said screwdriver has no legitimate reason for having one (let alone in this case being unlikely to be able to spell screwdriver) then you can make out a case for "going equipped". If you are a carpet fitter, being found with a hammer and a Stanley knife in your van isn't going to convince anyone that beyond reasonable doubt you are conspiring to commit burglary.Forsyth wrote:In the UK that would be called "going equipped", that only applies to committing a burglary, theft or "cheat" (obtaining property by deception). For a generic tool (and not one specifically made or adapted for the event), such as a hammer, it's easy to cast doubt on unless there's other supporting evidence.
Edit to add : freaky jinx double post.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/48/section/3
Possessing anything with intent to destroy or damage property.
A person who has anything in his custody or under his control intending without lawful excuse to use it or cause or permit another to use it—
(a)to destroy or damage any property belonging to some other person; or
(b)to destroy or damage his own or the user’s property in a way which he knows is likely to endanger the life of some other person;shall be guilty of an offence.
As regards the yet to be resolved court case, well it's a side show really as it has had the effect of cooling off the knob-heads, imposing conditions on them to prevent re-occurrence and has served as a valuable demonstration to other supporters that the game is finally up. I'll bet the police couldn't really give a toss about the outcome as to their mind its job done finally and they can devote their resources to something more worthwhile.
What is a bit worrying is that some idiot is misusing their access to Land Registry and releasing compromising material. No doubt released with a view to inciting grief towards the prospective conveyancer and their client. There is a facility to monitor properties within the Land Registry but it isn't a feature that Joe Public would have ready access to.
Since Land Reg monitor access of this type the Crawford's informant is at risk of a tug under the Computer Misuse Act or at best a sacking for gross misconduct.