Twenty-eight knives were confiscated from visitors to Chester Crown and Magistrates Courts between November 2012 and December 2014.
Cameras were the most common item seized by court staff during the 26-month period with 97 confiscated, according to figures released to the Chronicle under the Freedom of Information Act.
Bringing up the rear were tools at 70, followed closely by alcohol at 64.
Ten knives with blades measuring less than three inches and 18 with blades of more than three inches were also taken off people.
'Robust' security system
A spokesman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said that it 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’.
People attending the Chester courts are subject to mandatory bag searches and must pass through metal detectors before they are allowed through.
Additional measures include surveillance cameras and court security officers who have powers to restrain and remove people from the building when necessary.
“Our security system is continually monitored to ensure that it is effective and proportionate and mitigates against the risks faced,” the spokesman added.
A total of 307 items were confiscated from the two courts between November 2012 and December 2014.
Among these were 28 ‘other’ items, which are those court security officers believe could be used as weapons, or could cause a hazard to others, or be used to disrupt court proceedings.
Offending articles have included umbrellas, aerosols and soft drinks cans.
