Officers were sent to the scene in Portstewart Strand but, following a search of a van, concluded the reasons behind the knife sightings were much less sinister than initially believed
Officers were called to a beach in Northern Ireland after reports of a man believed to have a knife – but the reasons behind the blade sightings were not as sinister as initially believed.
Police received a report of a number of men, with one of them believed to have a knife, in the Portstewart Strand area on the north coast of Northern Ireland on Sunday afternoon (June 21).
Officers attended the scene and spoke with the group in question before carrying out a search of their van.
They then concluded that the knife had actually been used only to prepare a barbecue at the beach, with no danger posed to the public.
The blade was seized for disposal, however.
A statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland read: “Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene where they spoke with the men.
“A subsequent search of the men’s van established that they had been preparing barbeque at the beach and the knife was being used for this purpose.
“No criminal offences were noted, however the knife was removed for disposal. No further police action was taken.”
According to NI Direct, it’s an offence to carry a knife or an offensive weapon in a public place “without good reason”.
Some “good reason” examples listed on gov.uk include a knife being used for work, for religious reasons or as part of any national costume.
