Arrests during weapons purge

Police recovered a variety of weapons

Thirty four people, including eight juveniles, are to be reported to the procurator fiscal after a major clampdown by Strathclyde Police.

The force said 36 weapons were seized over the weekend, including a bayonet, kitchen knives, batons and metal bars.

Police said the overall number of knives seized was lower than during previous high profile operations.

High profile operation by police

Among those stopped by police were a 13-year-old boy who was alleged to have had a four-and-a-half inch knife in a public park in the Harthill area and a 16-year-old, who was arrested for allegedly having a knife in the Ruchill area of Glasgow.

The adults arrested included a 25-year-old man, who was alleged to have had a nine inch bayonet in the Maryhill area of the city.

The crackdown was a continuation of the force's Safer Streets campaign, which was launched in February as part of the long running Spotlight Initiative, and took place across the nine police divisions.

A force spokesman said that, in the first 12 weeks of the campaign, 1,330 weapons, including 584 knives were seized and 2,200 arrests made in connection with violent crime and weapons offences.

'No cessation'

Assistant Chief Constable Sandra Hood said: "It is simply unacceptable to carry weapons in public.

"Neither the police nor the people in our communities are prepared to tolerate this type of behaviour and there will be no cessation of our efforts to continue to seek out those responsible.

"What is pleasing to note is that the number of knives seized by police officers is reducing."