A samurai sword, zombie knife and machete were all taken off the streets by police over the weekend.
Four arrests and a charge were made by Nottinghamshire Police as part of three separate incidents on Saturday (15 July).
The county knife crime team were out on patrol in the Mansfield area when they spotted a car that intelligence suggested could be involved in criminal activity.
After pulling the car over in Sherwood Hall Road at around 2.35pm, the vehicle was searched by the officers who then found a samurai sword underneath one of the seats.
The three occupants of the car, men aged 39, 19 and 18, were all arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in public.
Several hours before that stop, at around 7.55am, officers from response and the city north Operation Reacher team carried out a warrant at a house in St Ann’s.
A search then resulted in a suspected zombie knife being discovered inside the property by police.
Connor Gladwin, of Hungerhill Road, St Ann’s, was subsequently charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.
The 21-year-old appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday (17 July), where he pleaded guilty to the charge.
He was remanded in custody and is next due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on 11 August.
Officers were also called to Bulwell bus station at around 8.55 pm that same day, after receiving reports someone had been seen carrying a knife.
After police attended the scene, a suspect tried to run from police but didn’t get far before they were caught following a short foot pursuit.
A search was then carried out of the nearby area, which led to a machete being recovered, and the arrest of a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of possession of a knife in public.
Superintendent Kathryn Craner, Nottinghamshire Police’s knife crime lead, said: “Thanks to some great police work by our officers, we were able to take three weapons away from our streets.
“These three incidents provide a good example of some of the different tactics we use as a force to help us follow up reports of potential knife crime offences and gather evidence.
“On one hand, our county knife crime team were able to follow up intelligence at their disposal to stop a suspect car during one of their proactive patrols and ultimately seize a weapon from within the vehicle.
“Property search warrants also provide an effective means for helping us confirm suspected criminal activity – on this occasion resulting in the discovery of a weapon that is now illegal to be kept in a private place or be sold anywhere in the UK.”
Supt Craner added: “Educating young people at an early stage about the dangers and consequences of picking up a knife remains a key part of our approach to counteracting knife crime.
“Whether it’s through visits to schools or colleges, or positive engagement work within the community involving youth outreach teams, so much work goes on all year round between the force and our partners around this important topic.
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“All these preventative methods play a significant role in helping hit home the message about the dangers of picking up a knife and ensuring we stop the harm that knife crime causes our communities.”
If anyone has any information regarding knife crime or knows of someone who has armed themselves with a weapon, please call 101, or in an emergency always call 999.
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