METAL-DETECTING knife arches will become a regular sight around Torbay pubs and clubs, police warn.

It follows the success of Operation Crook over the weekend when the knife arch was used by police at licensed premises around the Bay.

Police say the message is getting out that knife carrying is not tolerated.

Passing through the knife arch was a condition of entry into pubs and clubs taking part in the high-visibility police operation.

During an 11-day knife amnesty, more than 120 knives and swords were handed in at Torbay police stations.

And over the weekend a Torquay mum found a collection of three large knives under a car in the Union Square car park.

Police believe they may have been dumped due to the police searches.

Operation Crook was implemented after a spike in knife-related crime in Torbay over new year, in which three people received knife wounds.

In the first proactive weekend of Operation Crook, a series of joint licensing visits were organised by the police, Torbay Council and Julie Smart of the licensing department.

The patrols with officers from the local policing teams and tactical aid group were held at the Bolton Hotel in Brixham and on Torquay harbourside at both The Green Ginger and Mambos.

The three, large knives were found lying under a car in the Union Square car park on Sunday lunchtime by a member of the public, who took them to Torquay police station.

She said: "I saw something shining under the car and I was horrified when I saw it was a knife.

"When I bent down and saw there were three I was even more horrified.

"I couldn't leave them there because I was worried about whose hands they might fall into."

Det Sgt Chris Tapley said: "It is bizarre and I can only guess they may have been dumped as a result of us running our high-visibility operation. Who knows?

"I'm glad to report that no arrests were made this weekend for individuals carrying knives.

"In these circumstances, the arches are designed to act as both a detector and a deterrent.

"I'm hoping this is an indication the message is getting through that the carrying of knives will not be tolerated in Torbay.

"We intend that the presence of knife arches outside pubs and clubs becomes a regular sight in the Bay."

Police say that as a result of Operation Crook a 35-year-old local man was stopped and searched in Victoria Parade, Torquay, in the early hours of Saturday.

He was arrested, interviewed and has since been released on police bail.