THIS is just part of a haul of more than 300 weapons seized by police in Southampton in the past six months.

Knuckledusters, machetes, batons, swords, Gurkha and kitchen knives are among the weapons soon to be broken up and scrapped.

The majority were seized by police during searches of people suspected of carrying offensive weapons, while some have simply been handed in at police stations. Some are household implements, others are war trophies, and many have been bought by mail order or imported from abroad.

The haul is unveiled just two months after police statistics revealed that violent crime had soared by 24 per cent across the region. In February, the Daily Echo reported that 22,308 incidents of violent crime were recorded between April and September 2003, though police said this was down to more victims reporting crime.

Chief Insp Graham Jepson, who leads the Safer Streets initiative in Southampton, said police are planning a knife amnesty this summer.

He said: "Although knife crimes are relatively rare in Southampton they are obviously serious crimes and we will do everything in our power to keep them off the streets.

"We would encourage people to report the carrying of knives by calling Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."