Disturbing haul of lethal weapons seized
| Posted: December 11, 2008
A TERRIFYING haul of over 150 knives has been seized by police in a single month in Plymouth.
The weapons – which include ornamental swords, daggers and pocket knives – were found on people stopped in the street by officers, during searches of homes and by court staff.
The majority of the 156 bladed items recovered were kitchen knives, while batons, a knuckle duster and a modified screwdriver were also found.
Pc Ian Moore, of Plymouth police's training unit – which teaches officers how to tackle thugs who carry weapons – said: "Not all the items in the collection were from stop searches – some were found in cars or homes which were being searched, others have been handed in voluntarily.
"The majority are kitchen knives – they are the main ones used. They're cheap and cost very little. They're easily binned after being used in a crime and you can buy another one easily."
He also noted a number of knives had been seized at Plymouth Magistrates court.
He said: "We got about 20 of these really small lock knives with what look like Stanley blades attached. They were from the magistrates court where they have the airport-style arch scanners.
"Amazingly people were attempting to enter a court carrying a knife."
Although some have been found during searches on the street, others were handed in by conscientious members of the public.
Pc Moore said: "But they have all come from Plymouth people in just the last month.
"They will all be destroyed – melted down and turned into something else.
"We have four or five property suites in Devon and Cornwall and each force has property suites the same as ours. One can only imagine how many weapons are collected and melted down at the end of each month – and how many each year."
Plymouth police commander, Chief Supt Jim Webster was keen to stress that recent figures for Plymouth showed that between April and September this year there had been a five per cent reduction in all violence compared to the same period the previous year, with a 19 per cent reduction in serious violent crimes such as grievous bodily harm and robbery where a knife was involved.
He said: "It is vitally important to the police and partners to bring down violent crime in Plymouth and we're glad the work we're all carrying out has led to a reduction in all violence across the city.
"Clearly any violent offence is one too many and we'll keep pushing on all fronts to make this a safer city.
"The amount of knife-related crime is coming down year on year and stabbings are down.
"Although these reductions are good to see, the number of knives collected from across the city in one month is a concern for us.
"This is why we're training our officers specifically in how to deal with those people carrying knives.
"We've piloted the knife (detecting) arch in North Hill and tested the use of knife-detecting gloves.
"We have also carried out knife awareness training sessions in Plymouth schools and with magistrates and our partner agencies about the dangers of knives.
"Most people do not realise how easy it is to badly injure or kill somebody with a knife.
"In my time serving as an officer in London I investigated many murders where knives were used and quite simple incidents have turned into murder because of the use of knives.
"The key message we want to get out is carrying a knife is stupid. You run the risk of being injured with it yourself or seriously injuring somebody else."
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Two teenagers who carried out a terrifying robbery armed with large knives have each been jailed for four years.
Two hooded and masked men with knives robbed the Spar Stores in Molesworth Road at around 9.30pm on March 15, 2008.
Comments
I agree with Snivelling Pete - nasty thugs will always bully nice people. Trouble is the violence has been sanitized by shoddy law-makers as incidents slipped to the small comment boxes in the tabloids rather than front pages. Suddenly The Daily Mail gets all heated and it turns into a national travesty. Carrying a knife in the streets should be punished with a good old hefty dose of prison. If you are going on a picnic, slice the food before you take it with you. Therefore there is no reason to carry blades is there? Except to slash someone across the face because your drug deal has gone wrong or "yoom lucken at mar burd" - therefore equals a prison sentence and that applies to ALL bullies who can't get their way without "doing someone". Happy Christmas!
only four years for carrying out agrivated robbery. SHould get 20 years and serve all of it. THis country need to have sentences like the usa
Chris packett you are uninformed if you think all these knives were found in houses, try reading the article again where it says about handed in knives under an amnesty!! Everone is entitled to their opinion but somehow I don't think an innoccent chef would be carrying any of the knives pictured - you can be arrested for carrying a penknife as its still a lethal weapon! Some of these cases may be backed up in the system but they're there after all in this day and age proof is required hm?! There have been over 5 knife crimes in this area in the last 2 weeks and this is supossed to be a nice area - and Steve, people carrying knives are more likely to be attacked by their own weapon by crims than if they hadn't been carrying a weapon in the first place! You want to protect yourself get a little self defence training, it's not like there's not enough of it out there in 1 form or another!!
Its a democracy - leave Chris Packett alone and allow him his views - 150 knives seized should equal 150 prosecutions but this not reflected in Herald Court reports - the numbers don't add up. What about the mandatory sentences, can't help thinking that if they were imposed by those who could impose them then we would see the dramatic reduction - its all very well our hard pressed Police siezing these knives but without punishment they just go out to nearest supermarket and buy or steal more. Anyway i hear some crooks are now turning to replica imitation knives perhaps they should be next on the banning list . . . . . .. .
Drew Good to see you're embracing the democratic spirit of the internet where everyone can express an opinion. (Great name, by the way)
The Police dont just come and search for knives in your house for no reason. Decent people need not be alarmed. The Police generally need to have a warrant or an authority signed by an Inspector which, requires evidence. We should be very pleased to see this haul, it means our cops have been very busy doing the right thing in the right place. Of course there are alot of kitchen knives, they are by far the most easy of weapons to obtain. If a victim describes a kitchen type knife was used, then the cops when searching a house will seize of similar knives for examination.
I can't believe the likes of Chris Packett are allowed to post on this site. People with views like his should be silenced. The police need our support, I can't tell you the last time someone was attacked with a dualling sword and that's because the police are doing a damn good job!
and I've just spotted the nasty looking butter knife. The fiends......imagine being buttered to within an inch of your life....unspeakable villains
And the dualling swords!! when was the last time someone was attacked in plymouth with a dualling sword??
Most of them are kitchen knives. maybe a dozen slightly more sinister. Are the police suggesting we should give up everyday essential items?