LEGAL

Weapons areseized at courtnKnives and bottles ofalcohol among itemsheld by security staff

By Ellis Whitehousenewsdesk@nqnw.co.uk

MONITORED: Bolton Crown Court

NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 201516

KNIVES, cameras and alcoholhave been seized by securitystaff at Bolton’s courts this year— but the number of items thatpeople have attempted to smug-gle into court is on the decrease.

Guards have confiscated 11knives in January to Augustthis year — a drop when com-pared to the 28 confiscated inthe whole of 2014.

Staff have also taken 187 bot-tles of alcohol from people en-tering the courts, 145 camerasand 10 audio recorders.

In 2014 court workers confis-cated 341 alcohol containers, 180cameras and 18 recorders.

The figures were revealed asthe result of a Freedom of in-formation request to Her Maj-esty’s Courts and TribunalsService (HMCTS).

A spokesman for the servicesaid the issue of security with-

in courts was taken “extremelyseriously”.

He said: “The service has a ro-bust security and safety systemto protect all court users andthe Judiciary.

“Our security system is con-tinually monitored to ensurethat it is effective and propor-

tionate and mitigates againstthe risks faced.”

A total of 2,723 items havebeen confiscated so far thisyear, averaging at 85 per week.Last year, the number of itemsconfiscated from Bolton’scourts totalled 4,889, averagingat 94 per week.

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