One person has been issued with a caution as part of a police operation which brought knife arches to the city centre for the first time.

About 1,000 people went through the search arches, similar to metal detectors used at airports, over two Friday nights and last Saturday night.

Three bladed items were found - two small pen knives and one larger knife, for which an unnamed man was arrested and cautioned for possession of a bladed article.

The knives were found at The Goose pub, Gloucester Green, on July 27.

The full details were:

Friday 27 July:

  • The Goose pub - 165 people tested; three items found, one man arrested and cautioned
  • Park End Club - 112 people tested; nothing found

Friday 3 August

  • Que Pasa bar - 80 people tested, nothing found
  • Oceans and Collins nightclub - 130 people tested, nothing found

Saturday 4 August

  • The Goose - 200+ people tested, nothing found
  • The Bridge nightclub - 200+ people tested, nothing found

Insp Richard Brown, who leads the City Centre Unit, said: "We are determined to make Oxford a safe city at night and these results are encouraging. They seem to indicate few weapons are being taken into our pubs and clubs at the weekend.

"We will continue to use these sorts of tactics in our push to clamp down on alcohol-related disorder and violence. We have had a positive response from both licensees and club and pub-goers, who have been reassured that can go ahead and enjoy themselves in premises that are knife free."