Police uncovered a stash of Molotov cocktails, swords, machetes as well as black clothing and bandanas in two incidents, it emerged yesterday.

The discoveries were made in the central parishes, the Police declined to say where, two Sundays ago but were made public yesterday as officers warned of a rise in the number of bladed weapons being used in violent incidents.

They were stashed in two locations and were found after a member of the public told Police they had seen two armed men. It is not clear if the armed men sightings are related to the uncovering of the weapons stash.

Officers say one person has been arrested in connection with the incidents — where machetes, swords, metal pipes, petrol bombs and metal rebars were found — and inquiries 'are continuing.'

The findings were revealed at a news conference yesterday where Police put on show some of the bladed weapons they have seized in the past. Officers say the use of bladed weapons is on the rise in Bermuda.

Sergeant Alex Rollin, attached to the Police Support Unit (PSU), also said that often Police arriving at the scene are finding suspects still carrying weapons or discovering that suspects have tried to hide them nearby.

Sgt. Rollin said: "The public are reminded that recent amendments to section 315 of the Criminal Code now give the Police and the courts new powers when it comes to dealing with weapons offences." The public was also reminded, especially those travelling, that some items may be legal and easily acquired in other countries, many are prohibited in Bermuda.

These include flick knives, brass knuckles, crossbows, slingshots and blowguns. Sgt. Rollin further warned: "When a suspect is caught with a knife or any other bladed or pointed article that person will be arrested and will remain in custody until the next available court session.

"Upon reaching court, a suspect finds themselves serving a mandatory three year sentence as well as a $5,000 fine. This is for a conviction in the Magistrates' Court.

"And, if the matter is heard in the Supreme Court, the offender stands to face a mandatory five year sentence as well as up to $10,000 in fines," he added.

So why do Customs officers fail to uncover the prohibited weapons imported into Bermuda? Sgt. Rollin speculated it is a matter of profiling.

"Some items they can buy overseas and are completely legal in most countries," he said. "Someone who comes through Customs might not be nervous about bringing them in. And, they might not be flagged up by the Police when they bring these items in and then they take them out on the street and the Police will come across them." So far this year, while Police officers have not been confronted with someone carrying a firearm, it was revealed they have recovered an amount of firearms resulting from ongoing investigations.

Responding to the possibility of a bladed weapons amnesty, Sgt. Rollin said Police would support such a move, if the Governor, who has discretion, approves of it.

He continued: "Hopefully this press release will empower some people to want to give up any weapons they have or any weapons they own that might be lying around the house."

Shadow Minister of Public Safety and Leader of the Opposition Michael Dunkley said of the weapons find: "Congratulations to the Police - this type of policing is what we need throughout the community. It goes to show we have a serious issue that many people are blind to or not aware of. There are many individuals in our community that want to commit this type of behaviour. We should rally against it and we need to work with the Police - they can't work by themselves."

Last month, a 21-year-old white man from Pembroke was given a 12-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to pay $4,385 in compensation after wielding a Samurai sword in a Fairylands disturbance. He had pleaded guilty to going armed in public, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding. Judge Charles-Etta Simmons handed down the sentence, which sparked controversy over the fact that the youngster was not jailed.

Asked what sort of message he felt the sentence sent out to would-be criminals, Mr. Dunkley declined to comment in detail because the Crown is in the process of appealing for a tougher sentence. However, he said he was keeping his fingers crossed that the punishment would be upped on appeal, commenting: "I did hear the outcry in the community and I was concerned because on the face of what I heard and read I did not think that justice had not been done...especially when you look at the matter that it was a white individual involved and quite often people in the community believe black people will get the book thrown at them while white people get away with it. That needs to change."