Huge haul of weapons seized from Shropshire courts

Security staff also seized liquids such as cleaning products, perfume and aerosols, and glass bottles, the HM Courts & Tribunals Service statistics show.

They will seize items if they believe they may jeopardise the maintenance of order in the court building or put the safety of any person at risk.

Hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and nails are among the common tools handed over to guards.

There were 51 items seized at Telford Magistrates Court and 28 at Shrewsbury Crown Court between October 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018, the figures show.

A further 23 tools were taken off people at Welshpool Law Courts.

It’s thought many are unwittingly taken into court premises but it’s feared some people deliberately attempt to sneak them in.

The Ministry of Justice says a ‘robust security system’ is in place.

Staff also made sure more than 100 sharp implements including syringes, needles and darts were handed over at the court entrance.

A total of 125 ‘sharps’ were confiscated in Shrewsbury along with seven in Telford and three in Welshpool.

Two knives were also seized in Shrewsbury along with another blade in Welshpool.

Robust

Alcoholic drinks, in cans and bottles, also had to be taken off people visiting the courts during the 12-month period.

A total of 55 beverages were given up in Telford along with another 55 in Welshpool.

Glass bottles and metal cutlery was also confiscated by security officers.

In total, during the 12-month period of total of 252 banned items were taken off visitors to Telford Magistrates Court and people were asked to hand over 188 items at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesman said: “Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has a robust security and safety system to protect all court users and the judiciary.

“The system includes mandatory bag searches, the use of modern security searching equipment and surveillance cameras, as well as Court Security Officers (CSO) with the powers to restrain and remove people from the building should there be a need.

“Our security system is continually monitored to ensure that it is effective and proportionate, and mitigates against the risks faced.”

Stephen Scully, a solicitor with Lanyon Bowdler and a member of Shropshire Advocates Group, said: “It is quite surprising what people do turn up at court with.”

The many items confiscated at our courts

Airport-style security and eagle-eyed staff stopped thousands of banned items from entering court buildings in just 12 months.

From knives, needles and tools to metal cutlery, glass bottles and large umbrellas – they’ve all been seized in an effort to protect the public.

Guards at the entrance ensure nothing gets past them that could be used as a weapon, cause a hazard to others or disrupt court proceedings.

Cameras and recording devices along with liquids such as alcohol, perfume and aerosols are also on the prohibited list.

Many people can unintentionally attend court with items destined to be confiscated such as work tools which have been left in a bag.

But it’s feared some may deliberately sneak knives and needles into their pockets intending to cause others harm and that’s why the Ministry of Justice says there is a “robust security and safety system” in place.

The latest figures from the the HM Courts & Tribunals Service show that across the Midlands and Mid Wales, 88 knives were handed over at the door.

The highest number was at Walsall Magistrates’ Court where 32 blades were seized by court security officers, followed by 30 at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court and Wolverhampton Combined Court and nine at Welshpool Law Courts.

There were also eight taken in by staff at Stafford Combined Court, five at Cannock Magistrates’ Court, two at Shrewsbury Crown Court and two at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court.

Dangerous

Tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and nails were also kept out of courts. A total of 51 tools were handed in at Telford and 28 in Shrewsbury. Elsewhere in the Midlands, 275 tools were handed in at Wolverhampton’s two courts, 62 in Stafford and 41 in Walsall.

In Welshpool, 23 items were seized. There were 28 seized in Dudley, six in Cannock and five in Kidderminster.

Although not commonly considered to be a weapon, staff must also confiscate large umbrellas as they “can be used as a dangerous weapon to inflict significant injury to others”.

Forty brollies were taken from people visiting Dudley Magistrates’ Court, 34 in Wolverhampton, 23 in Walsall, 15 in Telford and one in Cannock.

Sharp implements such as syringes, needles and darts were a common problem. Security staff uncovered 150 of these items in Walsall, 125 in Shrewsbury, 54 in Wolverhampton, 45 in Cannock, 33 in Stafford, 22 in Dudley, seven in Telford and three in Welshpool.

Bottles and cans of alcohol were another frequent item confiscated at the door especially in Wolverhampton where 104 beverages were turned in.

A further 55 were handed in at courts in both Telford and Welshpool. A total of 66 were handed over in Walsall, 31 in Dudley, 18 in Stafford, six in Cannock and four in Kidderminster.

Liquids that are not drinks or prescription medicine are also not allowed into court.

Among items seized in the 12-month period were cleaning products, perfume, aerosols, vape liquids, nail varnish, gas refills.

In Wolverhampton a total of 3,618 of these were handed over along with 1,773 in Stafford, 517 in Dudley, 358 in Cannock, 165 in Walsall, 23 in Telford and six in Welshpool.

Restrictions also cover glass bottles and many people had to turn these in at the entrance.

Fifty-three containers were handed in in Wolverhampton, 20 in Cannock, 19 in Stafford, six in Telford, six in Dudley, four in Walsall, one in Shrewsbury and one in Welshpool.

Metal knives and forks are also banned as they could be used as a weapon.

In Telford, 14 items were seized. In Stafford there were 10, in Shrewsbury six, Wolverhampton five, Dudley and Welshpool two each, and one in Walsall.

Dozens of cameras and recording devices were also seized amid fears they could disrupt court proceedings.

Stephen Scully, a solicitor with Lanyon Bowdler and a member of Shropshire Advocates Group, said there were procedures in place to deal with potentially dangerous items.

“I am aware of people turning up to courts with things they shouldn’t.

“A quite common one is penknives – people don’t realise they shouldn’t have them.

“What tends to happen if they turn up with something illegal is that police will be informed and it will be destroyed.”

A notice detailing what is deemed to be prohibited is displayed in the court entrance area.

Most items will be returned to the owner once they leave the premises with the exception of knives and bladed articles.

Councillor Doug James said he was concerned by the figures and called for security staff to be given more help to deal with people intent on bringing banned items into court, especially when it comes to weapons such as knives.

“It only takes one violent incident to ruin a member of staff’s life or injure innocent victims,” he said. “The staff need more support because if these were the number of items found, it makes me wonder how many weren’t found.

“I hope looking forward in 2019, they get the equipment and investment to deal with this threat,” added the councillor for Darlaston South.

Wolverhampton South East MP, Pat McFadden said he too found the figures concerning, adding: “It’s very worrying to see objects like this being smuggled into court. Members of the public are already very worried about knife crime and cuts in police numbers.

“They expect courts to be safe places where justice can be administered. I believe the authorities will have to respond to these findings by stepping up security.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “If an owner wants their knife back, they must write to the senior person on site within 28 days of their knife being surrendered to CSOs.”