Sponsored by
Police seize one knife every day
A KNIFE a day is being seized by police on Wigan’s streets, according to the latest figures.
Figures released through a Freedom of Information request from the Evening Post to Greater Manchester Police revealed that in the past three years, 915 knives have been seized by officers on Wigan’s streets - one every 1.19 days.
However, while the numbers are high, the amount of knives being seized has dropped year on year, which police say is an indication that they are getting on top of knife crime.
In 2008/09, 330 knives were seized by GMP in the borough, but last year it was down to 288.
The figures also showed that 36 handguns, 34 shotguns and 11 cross bows have also been recovered by Police in Wigan since 2009.
Supt Robert Lomas of GMP’s Wigan Division said: “These figures do not show that there are lots of weapons being carried on our streets, and encouragingly we have seen significant reductions in the number of knives seized.
“When the period April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 is compared with the same period in 2010/11, figures show there were 42 fewer knives seized, a drop of 13 per cent.
“This matters because knives are by far the most commonly carried weapon in the borough, and we regularly use knife detectors in town centres and stop and search powers to deter people from carrying them.
“If people are worried about knife or gun crime they should speak to their local neighbourhood policing team, whose contact details can be found on our website.
“And if anyone has information about these types of crime they should either call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Last month the Wigan Evening Post revealed that 242 weapons were seized in the first 10 months of 2011.
One of their biggest hauls came on August 20 last year, when a total of 10 firearms were seized in one incident, including three shotguns and an air rifle.
On June 22, a total of nine items were taken, including a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun, a Beretta 12-gauge shotgun, a 101 Magnum gas-powered gun and three cans of pepper spray.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wigan
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
half
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:58 PMAre knives really the problem? Or its is the people who use them in crimes? I carry a knife every day legally, its just a tool.
workinwigan
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:27 PMCan I just say, please don't beat up the Police about this. They find the criminals, gather the evidence, then charge them. At court, they are usually let off with some sort of 'slap on the wrist' or the case is thrown out because a lawyer picks up on some stupid technicality even though they all know the accused is guilty. I seem to remember that the Con-Dems promised automatic prison sentences for anyone caught carrying a knife? Another policy forgotten about!
cartmankenny
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:23 PMI agree with previous comments. It's all very well crowing about a 13% reduction and patting themselves on the back but there were still 288 knives seized ant the police don't seem bothered. It takes only ONE knife to kill or seriously injure. How about the WEP use a F of I request to let us know HOW MANY of the 288 were CHARGED and appeared in court or LET OFF with a caution. The Supt would not be so "encouraged " then. The public are not" encouraged" at all.
sickofitall
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:24 PMFor everyone carrying a weapon prosecute and JAIL THEM !!! What IS the problem ??????????
cowboy
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:15 PM288 knives were seized last year, was 288 people charged with carrying an offensive weapon, im guessing not, what a way to keep the crime figures down, dont charge the criminal anymore, then your crime figures falls,the asylums are being run by the lunatics and the statisticians
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.