Airport crackdown nets weapons

SECURITY staff have seized a host of deadly weapons from travellers during a crackdown on illegal goods at Scotland's five major airports.

Dangerous items such as swords, daggers and replica guns have all been confiscated from holidaymakers returning home from abroad.

The UK Border Agency launched a summer crackdown to help keep banned weapons off the streets of Scotland a few weeks ago.

Other items seized were butterfly knives, knuckle-dusters and batons. One replica gun had gold hand-painted detail on the side and another was a replica of a military-style handgun.

A total of 7,042 offensive weapon crimes were recorded in Scotland last year.

Security staff are now stepping up their efforts to stop people coming into the country with illegal items to help make the country safer. The campaign is in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Murdo MacMillan, UK Border Agency assistant director in Scotland, said: "Just because you can legally buy an item while on holiday abroad does not mean you can legally bring it into Scotland. We are determined to prevent lethal weapons reaching our streets, and ignorance of the law is no defence."