PROHIBITED knives and swords have been discovered on an online marketplace.

A total of 16 banned knives, including swords, a blowpipe and flick knives, were found on global online marketplaces by West Sussex Trading Standards and Sussex Police.

The Trading Standards team contacted the site when the banned weapons were discovered and subsequently removed from sale to any UK customers.

A total of 11 sellers were based in the UK, while the sellers of four banned knives were also located in China.

Peter Aston, West Sussex Trading Standards team manager, said: “We have been supporting Sussex Police with Operation Safety and aim to take dangerous items, such as prohibited knives, off physical and virtual shelves as quickly as possible to avoid them getting into the wrong hands.

“The online marketplaces concerned were quick to take action once they had been alerted to the situation and all the advertisements were removed.

“Any knife found for sale from a UK seller was reported to their local trading standards authorities so they could follow up with the businesses concerned.”

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Yates said Operation Safety is Sussex Police’s response to “serious violence and knife crime”.

“We have been working closely with Trading Standards and UK Border Force to restrict the importation and sale of knives and prohibited weapons across Sussex,” he said.

“It is an offence to possess an offensive weapon or knife in a public place with updates to the most recent legislation making some weapons prohibited in private premises also.

“Anyone found in possession of such weapons will be prosecuted and intelligence will be shared with our partners.”

Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “The ongoing work our Trading Standards Team do in supporting Sussex Police with Operation Safety is a significant task.

“If any resident spots these products for sale through online marketplaces, be sure to flag these directly with the website and let Trading Standards know as well, it is a quick job to report it and will help to crack down on the really big trade in dangerous weapons. It will also help to keep our county’s streets a little safer.”