Cops seize 13 knives a day at Commons
THIRTEEN knives are seized on average every day from visitors to the Commons.
A total of 1,179 were confiscated between January and March, including kitchen and craft knives.
Other items seized as they could possibly be used as weapons included 1,091 bike locks and padlocks, 66 corkscrews and bottle openers, 19 screwdrivers,16 spanners and 50 other tools.
The police also stopped 91 people with whistles and four with laser pens because they could have been used to disrupt proceedings in the Commons chamber.
And 78 bottles of booze were also confiscated.
Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said the number of knives was worrying.
He added: “MPs must make guests aware that they should not bring such items in the first place.”