A NUMBER of "highly dangerous" knives designed to cause injury have been seized by West Yorkshire Police.

Police seized the weapons from addresses across Leeds, in the first of a series of new operations by the force's Operation Jemlock team.  

Operation Jemlock officers visited 20 Leeds addresses yesterday, in partnership with the UK Border Agency, to investigate the importation of weapons which are illegal to own and possess.

Five dangerous knives were surrendered to officers under the new Offensive Weapons Act, with investigations into how the weapons were bought and supplied now ongoing.

Police have warned residents that just because a knife may be available to buy on a website it may not be legal to import or to own it, and those doing so are potentially committing criminal offences.

Officers acted as part of ongoing work with the UK Border Agency, which monitors attempts to buy and import weapons using the internet and contacts forces about potential illegal activity.

19 community resolutions were issued to residents as part of visits to addresses.

Operation Jemlock itself was launched in 2019 to combat serious violence and knife crime in West Yorkshire.

It involves officers patrolling ‘high priority’ areas to provide a reassuring, highly visible presence within those communities.

Chief Inspector James Kitchen, of Operation Jemlock, said: “Operation Jemlock is working closely with our colleagues in the UK Border Agency to identify those who are buying or attempting to buy knives, usually over the internet, which are illegal to own in the UK.

“I want to make it very clear to residents that just because a dangerous looking weapon is available to buy on  a non-UK website, it doesn’t mean it is legal to import it into the UK, or legal to have in your home, and people who do so could be committing offences.”

He added: “Community resolutions have been issued in today’s visits and residents should be aware that if we find them in possession of such weapons we will take positive action.

“This could mean a local resolution or education, or arrest and prosecution.

“The weapons seized today were clearly created to cause serious harm, and it is a good thing they are now out of circulation.”