Hundreds of items have been confiscated from people entering courts in Swansea, including knives, needles, tools, drugs and even a replica firearm.
Official findings by WalesOnline have revealed there were 914 items seized by security officers from January until October this year, 619 at Swansea Magistrates’ Court and 295 at Swansea Crown Court.
Stand out figures at the magistrates’ court, based at Grove Place, found there were 434 sharp items taken away from people entering in the 10 months, which can include syringes, needles or darts, the Ministry of Justice states in its report, obtained via the Freedom of Information Act.
This included 218 in the month of May alone and 76 in August.
There were also 56 knives less than three inches taken away at the door, and one more than three inches.
A replica firearm was confiscated in February, while 41 items categorised as tools, 10 cameras, seven recording devices, 25 alcoholic drinks and two drug substances were removed.
Items were confiscated a lot less frequently at Swansea Crown Court .
The most common item taken away were tools - 175 times, while 23 cameras and the same number of knives less than three inches were removed, along with one more than three inches.
There were 47 sharp items confiscated, 14 drug substances, six recording devices, and four alcohol items removed.
Meanwhile, at Llanelli Law Courts , security officers seized 48 items, with the main offender being alcohol with 23 items.
There was one knife more than three inches confiscated, along with three less than three inches, five tools, three cameras, one recording device, ten sharp items and one drug substance.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service takes the issue of security within courts extremely seriously and has a robust security and safety system to protect all court users and the Judiciary.
“This system includes mandatory bag searches, metal detectors and surveillance cameras, as well as court security officers who have legislative powers to protect all those in the court building.
“The powers of the court security officers include the ability 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. We are committed to keeping the public safe.
“Anyone who is found with a contraband item will have it confiscated and face being reported to the police for prosecution.”
