Knives seized during police purge
DEADLY weapons were seized by police as a crackdown on violent behaviour got under way in Inverclyde.
Officers carried out 186 searches and uncovered 10 weapons during swoops over the weekend.
They targeted ‘hot spots’ and stopped and searched gangs of young people acting suspiciously.
During the searches they confiscated:
Four lock knives
One Stanley knife
One kitchen knife
Two baton-style clubs
Three bits of wood that had been fashioned into weapons.
Greenock police Inspector Charlie Paul said: "The fact we got 10 weapons out of more than 180 searches is a good result.
"We've got these weapons off the streets and it also shows that the carrying of weapons is not as widespread as it would appear."
Inspector Paul added that the initial stage of the operation was an information campaign about the dangers of carrying weapons. This was carried out in schools before the end of the summer term.
And he warned that more stop and search operations could take place as the crackdown continues over the next few months.
