ARRESTS for possessing an offensive weapon in a public place have fallen this year in Herefordshire.

According to figures released by West Mercia Police following an FOI request, the figures for this year up to August are lower than last year and 2016.

For 2018 up until August 31, there have been seven arrests for possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and 14 for possessing a knife blade/pointed article in a public place, adding up to 21.

This works out as slightly less than three arrests per month.

In 2017 in the county there were 40 arrests for the same offences, which works out at approximately three arrests a month.

This compares to 2016 figures where there were 49 arrests throughout the year for the same offences, which is approximately four arrests a month, and 19 arrests in 2015.

The term offensive weapon is defined as: "any article made or adapted for use to cause injury to the person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use."

Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 prohibits having an article with a blade or point in a public place, including a folding pocket knife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 7.62cm.