Jump to content

Being Stopped And Searched.

Gurooo

By Gurooo,
in POLITICS | LIFESTYLE

 Share

Recommended Posts

S1ngh Grand Master

S1ngh

Posted
Posted

If you are ever stopped and searched by police, whilst wearing a kirpan (more than 3inch) then what should you do? Especially if you are a teenager.

Has anyone ever been searched by police?

It is the risk that we take everyday.. ! Which country you are from? As SS mentioned above, carrying a small article or brochure printed by sikh organizations will help more than giving personal explanation.

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Singhstah Grand Master

Singhstah

Posted
Posted

To be honest, in London, I don't see it happening in the first place. On the whole the UK is great for us on such issues, the police in most places defintely have enough knowledge about Sikhs and kirpans. With that in mind, if a Sikh is wearing a dastaar (not one of those back of the head joora patka jobs) and not showing any strange or threatening behaviour I think you would be one of the last people to be selected for a search. I have never been.

However, if you were to be stopped all you have to do is tell them beforehand that you are a practicing Sikh and therefore you are wearing a kirpan as an article of your faith, at this stage I'm guessing they may ask you to show it to them, as has been my experience in getting through security in govt. buildings. If its England, and somewhere like London, or any other major town with a Sikh population, you shouldn't really have any problem on that point as they should know about the kirpan already.

Regardless, we should be aware of the following:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/part/XI (139)

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Pyara Grand Master

Pyara

Posted
Posted

If its England, and somewhere like London, or any other major town with a Sikh population, you shouldn't really have any problem on that point as they should know about the kirpan already.

Regardless, we should be aware of the following:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/part/XI (139)

Thanks for the link to the article. Although you would expect a wider understanding of the kirpan by the authorities there have been a few isolated instances in the last 5 years in the UK where an individual officer has been unaware of the Kirpan and has wrongly arrested a Sikh male for wearing the kirpan.

A Singh I know in Coventry was involved in a minor road collision. The Police were called and during questioning an officer noticed the bottom of the Singh's 9inch taksali kirpan. He was then arrested and taken back to the Police station. However, the arresting officer and custody sergent must have consulted others and eventually found out about the kirpan. I think several hours passed before the Singh was released.

I think we take it for granted that there is an awareness of the Kirpan within the various Police forces, particularly in Sikh populated areas in the UK.

There is scope for work that needs to be done by UK Sikh bodies to ensure a relationship with the Police so that they are regularly updated on the right of the Sikh to wear their kirpan. It's dangerous to become complacent and assume the knowledge is out there.

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
SunSingh Grand Master

SunSingh

Posted
Posted

keep in mind that in some western countries, like canada, the police can't just search you for no reason, even if they suspect you of wrongdoing, they have no legal right to search you. if they asked me if they could search me, i would ask them why. even if it sounded reasonable, i would still refuse. if they ask why, you can just say that you don't feel comfortable with someone violating your privacy like that.

if they arrest you that's a different story. then they can search.

just be aware that police generally pretend to have the legal right to do certain things that they don't have the right to do, like search you or search your vehicle. BUT, because they carry themselves so authoritatively, usually people agree to a search. At that point, you have effectively given them permission to search you or your vehicle.

of course, if they see your kirpan poking out from under your shirt and mistake it for some ordinary weapon,that''s kind of a different situation.

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Singh559 Grand Master

Singh559

Posted
Posted

keep in mind that in some western countries, like canada, the police can't just search you for no reason, even if they suspect you of wrongdoing, they have no legal right to search you. if they asked me if they could search me, i would ask them why. even if it sounded reasonable, i would still refuse. if they ask why, you can just say that you don't feel comfortable with someone violating your privacy like that.

if they arrest you that's a different story. then they can search.

just be aware that police generally pretend to have the legal right to do certain things that they don't have the right to do, like search you or search your vehicle. BUT, because they carry themselves so authoritatively, usually people agree to a search. At that point, you have effectively given them permission to search you or your vehicle.

of course, if they see your kirpan poking out from under your shirt and mistake it for some ordinary weapon,that''s kind of a different situation.

In the U.S. cops can search you with 'just cause'. The grounds at which they can search you are so vague that they can get away almost all the time without any legal work.

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hanu Explorer

Hanu

Posted
Posted

The Sikh Coalition has a Kirpan Resources Page http://sikhcoalition.org/InfoKirpan.asp Go to the bottom and see which of these documents would be effective for you to carry around with you. Perhaps one of them indicates size limitataions. I think SC has offices in California, so California rules are probably also taken into account here (I am referring to a later post). I don't know where you are from, but even if you are not from the US, at least some kind of literature on your person at all times is preferable to trying to explain to someone cold that you belong to a religion they have never heard of and that that "hidden weapon" (according to their vocabulary) is part of your way of fulfullling your relligious obligations.

To answer your question more directly, if the police grab you for a kirpan do not resist, explain you are Sikh, that is a kirpan, a ritual dagger which you wear as part of your religion, you have (you should by then) paperwork in your backpack explaining it, do not fight or argue with them if they try to make you take it off or take it away from you. They have guns and you can eventually get it back or get a new one but if you freak them out and they think you are going to attack them there is only one of you. That might sound a little dramatic, but you can't be too careful with police.

On the other hand they might not care. I haven't heard anybody's story of being accosted by the police for kirpan possession, and it hasn't happened to me, though I am often expecting it, so I have no true idea what would happen. I do carry at all times court papers from decisions indicating that kirpan is a religious article protected by the First Amendment and is not a weapon and that it is incorrect for police to stop individuals for carrying one or confiscate it. Just in case.

Your question is very pertinent, so much that the SC itself dedicates an entire page of its site to the issue, so you are not alone in your anxieties. Best of luck.

If you are ever stopped and searched by police, whilst wearing a kirpan (more than 3inch) then what should you do? Especially if you are a teenager.

Has anyone ever been searched by police?

0
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt


  • Topics

  • Posts

    • ipledgeblue
      Baba Vadbagh Singh ji

      By ipledgeblue · Posted

      lol dal panth Panj told me explicitly not to associate with Vadhbhag Singh Sodhi followers!
    • Singh1989
      All Gurdware should be like this

      By Singh1989 · Posted

      We have lamp (or Jyot) the pure unscented candle for a reason. Traditionally, Patis used candle light (jyot), so they could read SGGS in darkness. Light, elec didn't exist. Dhoop is used to attract the "Good spirits" but also keep freshness where Maharaj will be.  Interestingly and coincidentally I heard Sakhi a few dsys ago. During Dasa Pitha's time these souls were roaming the Earth and even Sangat noticed. Maharaj asked them "y u here?" They replied during recitation of SGGS and making Degh they didn't bother lighting candle. THAT WAS THEE ONLY REASON NO GATI WAS GIVEN TO THEM!!!  AUTHENTICITY NOT CHECKED I heard once on YT like 2 days ago.  If u apply dhoop in one room of your house twice a week u will notice a difference esp in the smell and freshness of that room. 
    • Singh1989
      Self care of hair

      By Singh1989 · Posted

      Sangat ji, With the hot weather as per Guru's Hukm, how can we look after our kes?  First of all the beard! Working in Construction, factory and any other heated environment I UNDERSTAND! At my workplace it's over 32 degree celcius and sometimes we have to lift 20kg ALL! DAY! My tips, regularly shampoo the beard during ishnan. APPLY OIL! The technique of applying oil is by rubbing it thoroughly in the roots. Pay attention to the noise esp on the chin. You will hear this "crosh crosh" noise. Keep rubbing oil until u can't hear it no more! This means the oil has blended in properly.  Second tip on beard, keep an extra kanga in your pocket. Every two, three hours give your beard a proper comb down to get rid of any sweat or stickiness. SECOND BENEFIT! Do this all 12 months every single day your beard will look like it's been professionally groomed. TRY IT! People will ask you "What gel u use? How can yer beard be naturally like that?" You can say all I use is coconut oil or whaeva oil but just comb the beard every 2-3 hours for a minute.  As for the kes, morning time get rid of all the gronjra (or knots - forgotten English word), in the morning. However, during evening comb down make sure you get rid of small remaining gronjra and comb yer hair nice and straight. You will feel soooo so relaxed. Yes our hair will go unnoticed due to Dastar, but our hair demands time and self grooming!So proper combing down, spending a good 15-20 mins most evenings is an absolute MUST!  Most evenings I let my hair down and cover hair with my parna for 2-3 hours so it gets to relax from the tying up.  FINAL TIP! We are Sikhs so we keep fighting and remember this! The tradition of Dastar and uncut hair started in India, where the weather is twice as hot. Everytime we bring this thought in the mind, Guru ji will bless us and make us feel cooled down by a notch.  Fateh.       
    • ipledgeblue
      Nidar Singh Nihang X The Ranveer show podcast

      By ipledgeblue · Posted

      Been so much nindya and attacking Shastarvidiya since the 2000s, however if we look at gatka now it's still mostly as poor and poorly taught as it was back then, still morris dancing moves and still behzti moves in BBC shows about sikhi and vaisakhi. If people were going to attack shastarvidiya, wouldn't have made sense to improve gatka instead and make it more effective? Additionally, the Nihang Singh presence has improved greatly now, and the cracks within the the SGPC and affiliated jatha jathebandis are showing more greatly as panth becomes more knowledgable with dasam bani and itihas day-by-day, so much gyaan which was lost within panjabi sikhs during colonial times. In the 2000s, the groups were able to talk down this bani and  gyaan by associating it with  RSS and hindus, brahminwaad etc. Not working so well now is it? However with gyaan it would be also good for us to try and preserve our martial arts and keertan vidiya as well! More and more crazy keertan videos are coming out from jatha members that are being made fun of and making sangat annoyed and upset, on tiktok and instagram reels.  
    • Not2Cool2Argue
      Why are starched turbans hated?

      By Not2Cool2Argue · Posted

      Author Posted April 24   On 4/21/2025 at 2:43 PM, ipledgeblue said: sirr should not be nanga because keski is usually worn.   Sikhs can sleep nanga-sirr if they choose to . Being from Punjab, almost every Sardaarji i know (amritdhari or not) sleeps/showers with their hair uncovered. I don't think Guru Sahib asked us to wear Dastar to sleep and I don't think it is in SRM.   The idea of "keski being worn to sleep" is cos in Bollywood films (Bachna Ae Haseeno) Sikh characters usually tie a gol parna when sleeping since the actor's usually Hindu. So they gotta cover his head somehow or he'd have cut hair. Same reason Diljit wore a pagg to bed in the El Sueno vid. Only time they didn't do that was in Gadar with Sunny Deol which just looked odd tbh   What in the world? What sikh or even a decent human would base their knowledge of their culture or religion on a movie industry, that too Bollywood?  Believe me, no sikh ever said, I must cover my head becasue an actor did so in a movie. I've been doing it all wrong, I must start covering mh head because the sikh in that movie did.  Just because every panjabi and sardaar you know, does something, also doesn't make it right..  Follow the guru. And if you have a medical condition, then exemptions can be made.  Just admit it, because of my medical condition, I am not able to follow this rehit. Why are you getting everyone else to drop to your level?
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use

  I accept