WEAPONS and drugs were found after reports of disturbance in Faringdon Park last night. 

Officers were called just before midnight yesterday and a 19-year-old man has been arrested after they found a large hunting knife and a knuckle duster. 

While conducting a search of the area as part of the Operation Sceptre – a new initiative aiming to reduce knife crime in Swindon - they noticed a male acting suspiciously.

The man ran off but was stopped and searched. A large hunting knife and a knuckle duster were discovered.

He was taken into custody at Gablecross police station where an amount of cannabis was then found on him. He was further arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Sgt David Tippetts said: “Thanks to the good work of these officers last night, there’s one less knife and dangerous weapon out there to cause harm.

“By getting knives and other weapons off our streets under such campaigns like Op Sceptre then that’s one part of the criminal cycle broken.

“It’s also the same when we seize drugs – it disrupts criminals and their crimes.”

Op Sceptre encourages people in Swindon and across the country to dispose of their unwanted or illegal knives and bladed weapons.

Special amnesty bins are available until September 29 at four locations in Swindon which are Swindon’s Gablecross Police Station, Broadgreen Community Centre, Town Centre policing point and Pinetrees Community Centre.