A dangerous trend is ringing alarm bells among security services. In the police station in Wels (Upper Austria) alone, 813 knives were taken from visitors last year.
Macho behavior, fear of theft or just habit? Visitors’ knives are increasingly being seized at the security gates of official buildings. Security will wrap up the souvenirs, seal them and return the sharp souvenirs to the owners when they leave the building.
Access controls since June 2019
Example of the police station in Wels: since June 2019, access controls have been carried out there. The civilian service of the commissariat is the central point of contact and is used daily from Monday to Friday by about 150 to 200 citizens. The “knife phenomenon” was noticed last year. Security personnel confiscated a total of 813 knives at access controls in the entrance area. But that didn’t stop the deluge of articles. This year, as of March 31, 254 knives have already been seized.
“Knives are a fire hazard”
Also interesting: a third of hunting, Stanley and pocket knives were temporarily withdrawn from circulation. The authorities in Wels agree: “This behavior is incomprehensible to us. It should actually be clear to everyone that you do not take a weapon with you when you go to the authorities. Knives are a fire hazard.”
The knife-in-pocket trend is also playing out at the Linz court: last year 70,600 people entered the courthouse and 1,279 knives were confiscated. The year before – so 2021 – there were 107,000 visitors with 1137 knives. So despite the falling number of people, there were more guns, Vice President Amalia Berger-Lehner said in the annual balance sheet at the end of February.
Lawyers are now warning that young people in particular are increasingly walking around armed.
“Krone” comment: A “fashion” that causes fear
Recently, at the security checkpoint in the Linz Regional Court, security “stared” my wallet very thoroughly. I was in a hurry and annoyed I asked if he thought I had a knife in my bag.
The good man remained enviably calm, reached into the drawer and presented me with a bank card knife in a plastic case. The size of a bank card, but with a diagonally integrated blade. His dry remark: “You won’t believe what weapons the visitors are carrying.”
This “fashion” scares me. I also don’t think you’re safer on the street with a knife.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
