HUNDREDS of knives, tools, cameras and canisters containing alcohol were confiscated from people attempting to enter York's courts.

Over a 19-month period, 735 banned items deemed a threat to staff and visitors at both York Crown Court and York Magistrates Court were taken from people entering the businesses.

Between January 2013 and July 2014 six knives with a blade larger than three inches were confiscated, 144 tools were taken from visitors and 339 alcohol canisters were banned from being brought into court rooms.

G4S staff at York Crown Court took 238 items from members of the public, while guards at the city's magistrates' court confiscasted 497 dangerous goods.

Amongst those confiscated from the magistrates' court, which is a first point of contact for all of the city's alleged criminals, were 128 tools and two knives.

Anyone who takes recording devices into court can face Contempt of Court charges and ultimately a prison sentence, but this did not stop people taking 80 cameras or recording devices taken into York Crown Court or 72 items intot he lower court.

The figures were obtained by The Press after a Freedom of Information request was submitted to Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS).

A comment included with the figures said: "HMCTS takes the issue of security within the courts extremely seriously and has a robust security and safety system to protect all court users and the Judiciary.

"This system includes mandatory bag searches, metal detectors and surveillance cameras, as well as court security officers who have legislative powers to protect all those in the court building.

"Our security system is continually monitored to ensure that it is effective and proportionate and mitigates against the risks faced."

Andrew Conboy, delivery manager at York Magistrates Court claimed the number of confiscated items were not high when compared to how many people entered the building everyday.

He said: "Given the number of people passing through the doors I don't think it's high.

"Bear in mind we get an awful lot of youths who are more likely to bring things in that are not allowed in here.

"There's plenty of signs around that tell people what not to bring into court, and the people that attend court tend to be the same over and over again, so they do know what's not allowed."