More than 100 blades seized at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in 2025

Data provided by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) for the first 10 months of last year reveal that staff at Aberdeen Sheriff Court alone recovered 110 blades. Other seized items included 101 glass containers, 68 aerosol cans, 45 tools and 25 alcohol containers. An imitation firearm was also recovered.

Court officials stressed that the firearm was not capable of causing damage or injury and that no one’s safety was ever put at risk.

Security staff confiscated almost 300 bladed items during the same period, along with two imitation firearms and a set of ammunition.

Permanent metal detector “knife arches” are in place at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and Inverness Justice Centre, the region’s two busiest courts. Between them, staff recovered 283 blades, two imitation firearms and one set of ammunition during the first 10 months of 2025.

At the two courts combined, staff also seized 187 glass items, 171 alcohol containers and 137 tools. In addition, 92 aerosol cans, 29 items of drugs paraphernalia, 13 syringes, seven lots of drugs, 18 ropes or chains and 94 other items deemed potentially harmful were confiscated.

A Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service spokesman said: “We take the safety of all court users very seriously. These are public buildings and we work closely with partners, including the police, to take all reasonable precautions against prohibited items being introduced into court buildings.

“Any item which is considered to be prohibited or a potential risk to public safety may be confiscated on entering a court building.

“The discovery of any weapon or potential weapon by staff is immediately reported to the police. Police officers are deployed in courts across Scotland and carry out a number of duties.

“The objective of police deployment within courts is to provide public reassurance, maintain public order and prevent intimidation.Security teams use a variety of measures to protect against potentially dangerous items being introduced into court buildings.

“Many recorded confiscations are domestic items or work tools, which people bring to court but are inappropriate to take into a courtroom.”