SECURITY guards have stopped people taking knives into court buildings after security measures were stepped up in Weymouth.

The move at Weymouth Magistrates Court is part of an HM Court Service drive to increase safety at magistrates courts across the UK.

New measures include using walkthrough and handheld metal detectors, and increasing security staff numbers from one to three.

Since Rotherham-based Elite Contract Security Ltd took over security earlier this month, officers have already stopped people taking knives into the building.

Nick Holiday, ECS senior operations manager, said: "It's amazing what people try and take into court - beer cans and knives.

"What we've been doing is bringing up the standard of security to what it should be, putting it in line with new security directives.

"It's for the benefit of everyone - all users, court staff, the Crown Prosecution Service and other solicitors."

One officer, who did not want to be named, confirmed that at least two people had been stopped from taking knives into court over the past three weeks.

Peter Parker, marketing director for ECS, said his company now provided security at magistrates courts across Dorset including those at Wareham, Blandford and Bridport. A further eight full-time officers have been employed by the company to meet new security targets.

It brings the total number guarding the county's magistrates courts to 11.

Previously the courts were overseen by a total of just three full-time officers. Mr Parker said: "We advertised the vacancy for court security officers in the Echo and from one advert we got 103 applicants, which I thought was very impressive.

"I think one of the attractions of the job is that it's day work."

He added: "All staff undergo a full one-week's training that includes court security powers under the Courts Act 2003."

The new officers will be managed by a former soldier with the Queen's Gurkha Signals, Gyan Tamang, 44.

Mr Tamang said: "It's a new challenge and I'm enjoying it. We've got a great team of officers."

Magistrates at Weymouth deal with low-level offending and cases not suitable for a hearing at crown court.

Their sentencing powers are limited to a maximum of six months' imprisonment.