LBC radio reported this morning they had obtained figures to show that 2790 women were caught carrying knives in 2023/24, up from fewer than 900 in 2014. It shows the figure has trebled in a decade. Statistics show that carrying a knife/blade increases the risk of injury to the holder and those around them.

I imagine they are relatively easy to get hold of.

Once upon a time, moons ago carrying a small penknife on the person was common. I can clearly picture an elderly man sharpening a pencil with his, an elderly lady peeling an apple with hers. Little lads would have them in their pockets with the inevitable marble and bit of string. I don’t know who’s it was, but someone in my life at some stage had a pretty mother of pearl handled penknife.

There is a superstition that giving someone a knife or scissors as a gift is considered bad luck because the blade represents severing ties with that person. To counteract the negativity the recipient hands the gift giver a coin, thus paying for the knife and maintaining their positive relationship.