A HAUL of knives found at a house in Bournemouth were left “by an unknown guest”. 

Several samurai swords were found in a house by police when they were carrying out a safeguarding visit earlier this week. 

The weapons, which vary in size, were confiscated by officers and taken back to the police station. 

A spokesperson  for Bournemouth Police said: “Bournemouth east neighbourhood policing team have been carrying out some safeguarding visits this evening due to cuckooing concerns. 

“These items were seized from a vulnerable person’s home this evening after they were left there by an unknown 'guest'.  

“These, like many others this week during Op Sceptre, are now safely in the police's possession and we will dispose of them safely.” 

Operation Sceptre is a nationwide effort by police forces to tackle knife crime. 

Young people, and adults, are being urged to give up their knives this week by dumping them in surrender bins at police stations in Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. 

The force has been going out to schools this week to raise awareness about the consequences of carrying knives.  

It has been calling on parents to ask their children ‘what’s in the package?’ to help tackle knives being ordered online and through the post. 

Dorset’s police and crime commissioner David Sidwick said: “We know the damage knife crime can wreak on our communities, and I have listened to the public, asked what more could be done and taken action to provide the resources needed by officers.   

“This has included funding knife wands for every police car in the county and working with the force to introduce a knife arch to help in our fight against knife crime across Dorset.   

“I am absolutely determined Dorset Police have the equipment and resources to tackle knife crime.   

“As well as the work officers will be conducting to target those habitual knife carriers, I am pleased to see a targeted focus on prevention and educating young people.   

“I know that enforcement alone will not prevent some young people carrying knives, which is why the work of our Safer Schools Community Team is so vital in the fight to protect our communities.”