POLICE have taken nearly 200 extreme weapons, including samurai swords, crossbows and meat cleavers, off the streets of south Essex over the last three years.

Officers have also seized thousands of knives and hundreds of firearms, including BB guns, stun guns and replicas.

The deadly arsenal collected at police stations in Basildon and Southend was revealed following a Freedom of Information request by the Echo.

Between May 2013 and May this year, police in Southend booked in 98 weapons under the category of swords, meat cleavers and crossbows.

Officers in Basildon seized 86, according to the figures.

Other unusual weapons seized during the period included 50 sets of nunchucks or knuckledusters in Southend, and 41 in Basildon.

There were also 53 cans of CS spray across the two districts.

Tony Hedley, councillor for public safety in Basildon, said extreme weapons should not be on sale.

He said: “I have a cleaver in my kitchen but I only use it for cooking. There is no real reason why some of these things should be on sale.

“It’s a concern that there appears to be people who, for whatever reason, are prepared to use extreme violence.

“Obviously it’s a concern for public safety but all we can do is educate young people that it’s not acceptable.”

During the three year period, 241 guns in Southend and 394 in Basildon were taken off the streets.

Police also seized thousands of knives, with 1,226 being handled at Southend and 931 in Basildon.

Kerry Nicholson, information officer at Essex Police, said: “The Property Management System is used by Essex Police is for the management of property, including weapons, and not for investigation purposes.

“When items, including weapons, are booked on, it will only detail whether they are for safekeeping, investigation or destruction.

“It will also not differentiate between offences and therefore it is not possible to say what offences a weapon has been seized for and when and if anyone was injured.

“Safekeeping may be because the owner does not have a certificate temporarily and so storage is needed.

“Investigation is categorised but only in so far as offence level, for example fatal, sexual, and other.

“Destruction is just that, items seized for destruction only, this could be during an amnesty or because someone wishes to transfer the weapon to Essex Police’s control.”