THERE were 159 crimes involving the use of a knife reported in Dorset last year, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The murder of chef Glyn Helliwell and serious stabbing of on-duty police officer PC Craig Bartlett were two of the most serious knife crimes committed in Dorset in 2011.

Glyn, 42, was found stabbed in Parkwood Road, Southbourne, on July 6 and died a short time later in a street robbery.

Killer Jake Brand, 22, was jailed on Monday to life imprisonment and told he would have to serve at least 23 years before being considered for parole.

Figures obtained by the Daily Echo shows that there were 159 knife crimes reported in Dorset in 2011 – 54 were robberies and 29 of these took place in the street.

This was a slight reduction from the 180 crimes involving the use of a knife reported in 2010.

Speaking about the figures, DCI John Gately, of Dorset Police CID, said: “Knife crimes in Dor-set are pretty rare but, by their very nature, are very serious.

“Some people carry a knife apparently for their own protection but that is no excuse.

“It has been found that you are more likely to get stabbed if you carry a knife because the weapon could be used against you.”

He warned offenders that police have powers to stop anyone they suspect of carrying a knife and if caught they could face up to four years in prison or a £5,000 fine.

And anyone convicted of assaulting another with a knife could be charged with GBH with intent which can carry a life prison sentence.

DCI Gately added: “Knife crime can have a devastating effect not just for the victims and their family but also for the community. “Offenders are likely to get caught. It’s a serious crime and we put a lot of resources into bringing the offender to justice.”

The figures

• 2011 – 159 knife crimes, 54 of which were robberies and 29 personal street robberies.

• 2010 – 180 knife crimes, 54 robberies – 24 of which took place in the street.

• 2009 – 161 knife crimes, 39 robberies – 13 of which happened in the street.