A knife was seized by police in Wisbech yesterday during a series of “pro-active patrols and stop searches”.

The £10 lock was recovered from one male routinely stopped and a police spokesman said “he has been dealt with this for this offence. The knife was seized”.

The spokesman said officers were out and about yesterday on patrol in the Wisbech area.

“Patrols were carried out throughout the morning, afternoon and evening,” said the spokesman.

“Officers stopped a number of persons and used their stop search powers. “

Police said that another man, found with cannabis on him, was given a verbal warning as it was his first offence. The drugs were taken of him.

Footnote: The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife is 4 years in prison and a fine of £5,000.

It is illegal to:

* Sell a knife to anyone under 18 (16 to 18 year olds in Scotland can buy cutlery and kitchen knives) unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less, e.g. a Swiss Army knife

* Carry a knife in public without good reason - unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less

*Carry, buy or sell any type of banned knife

* Use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife, such as a Swiss Army knife)

Lock knives (knives with blades that can be locked when unfolded) are not folding knives, and are illegal to carry in public without good reason.