Police search for knives at the Level in Brighton

The search took place at the Level in Ditchling Road, Brighton, which is considered a knife crime hotspot.

Chris Philp, centre, spoke to community search volunteers and thanked them for their work (Image: The Argus)

Policing Minister Chris Philp took part in the knife sweep and spoke to Sussex Community search volunteers.

He told the Argus: “I wanted to come to Brighton to see first hand the incredible work that has been going on across Sussex, especially in the 15 knife crime hotspots.

“What struck me were the incredible results that have been delivered here over the last few years.”

According to data, at the 15 hotspots in Sussex there has been a 50 per cent reduction in knife crime and a 35 per cent reduction in muggings over the last three years.

It was a wet night at the Level while police searched for weapons (Image: The Argus)

Mr Philp added: “This exemplar work in Sussex is something we can apply more widely.”

According to Sussex Police, 40 per cent of all knife crime in the region takes place at the 15 hotspots.

Nine of these locations are in Brighton and Hove.

• READ MORE: Sussex work to tackle knife crime in national week of action

The knife sweep is part of Operation Sceptre, a nationwide week focussed on preventing knife crime.

At the sweep, community search volunteers found a weapon in the bushes.

Scott Walters, neighbourhood inspector for Brighton and Hove, said: “With our search volunteers we look for weapons that have been intentionally hidden for later use.

“We found an item which was clearly adapted and made for the purpose of injuring someone."

Neighbourhood Inspector Walters holding the weapon that was found - padlock inside a small flannel attached to a rope (Image: The Argus)

The weapon that was found was a padlock inside a small flannel attached to a rope.

Inspector Walters said that if such an item was swung and hit against someone it would cause "significant injuries".

“Finding this is important to us as it gives us confidence that we are able to rid these public open spaces of such items,” said Inspector Walters.

“Thankfully this is not common and this is the first weapon like this that I have seen in my many years doing knife sweeps.”

Katy Bourne, Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, also attended the sweep.

She told The Argus: “The Level is a well-known hotspot where serious incidents have occurred in the past.

“But with carefully targeted patrolling we have seen reductions in knife crime.”