Court seizes hundreds of knives

Large lock knives are among the hundreds of items seized

More than 200 people have been caught carrying knives into a court building in Cornwall.

Blades seized at Truro Combined Court range from folding pocket knives to kitchen knives and large lock knives.

There have been 203 seized so far in 2008, with 13 in the last month, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Officers said they would be taking action against those found to be in possession of knives or other articles that could be used as weapons.

'Massive concern'

Knives have been seized by court staff and police in routine searches using metal detectors at the court.

Sgt Miles Topham said: "It's a massive concern. Courts are emotive places and knives create the potential for things to go very badly.

"By carrying them people are putting themselves and others at risk."

He said some people had appeared to be unaware they were carrying a knife, but posters outside court would now be reminding people not to carry them.

Sgt Topham said: "Any knife in public has potential for causing devastation in the community.

"We want to avoid that at all costs."