Sikh man wrongly detained by police for carrying religious dagger

Police have been criticised for ‘not knowing the law’ after footage emerged of a man being confronted over his ceremonial knife.

The Skih man was detained by police despite having a legal right to carry the religious dagger known as a Kirpan.

He told the officer in Birmingham’s Bull Street: ‘I’m a Sikh I can carry this if I want to.’

However, the officer accused him of being aggressive and calls for back-up.

The incident who was condemned by the British Sikh Council after being posted on a British-Punjabi Facebook group. The group said: ‘If he’s a practicing
Sikh then there shouldn’t be an issue.’

However, some defended the police officer’s actions saying with that with a backdrop of crime it was his right to be cautious.

Gemma West said:‘At the end of the day, that can be used as a weapon and to see that people can find it intimidating. Keep it at home.’

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: ‘Police on patrol in Birmingham city centre spoke to a man who was acting aggressively just before 6:30pm on Monday 5 August in Dale End. He was advised regarding his behaviour and no further action was taken.’

The incident comes after another Sikh man was stopped by police for carrying a Kirpan at Gatwick airport.

A Kirpan is part of a religious commandment in which Sikhs must wear five articles of faith at all times.

Under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019,  if a person can provide justification and evidence their bladed article is used for ‘religious reasons only’ then it can be used as a ‘defence’ should they then be charged with the possession.

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