Armed officers swiftly responded to reports of a firearm sighting on Raleigh Street, Radford, leading to the arrest of four men and the seizure of an imitation weapon.
Nottinghamshire Police were alerted around 10:10 PM on Sunday, 11 May, following concerns from the public about a potential firearm being seen at a residential address. Upon arrival, armed policing and response teams located and confiscated an airsoft rifle – a type of replica firearm designed to fire non-lethal plastic pellets.
The four suspects – aged 19, 20, 20, and 21 – were detained on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. While the weapon involved was confirmed to be an airsoft rifle, officers acted swiftly due to the serious nature of the report.
PC Imran Ahmed of Nottinghamshire Police explained the importance of a rapid and robust response in such situations:
“As this incident showed, anyone who carries a firearm – whether it be viable or an imitation one – should expect to be faced with a robust response from the police.
“The reasoning for this is quite simple in that doing this causes understandable alarm to the local community and could, for obvious reasons, be incredibly dangerous.
“Bearing all of this in mind, it’s important that we as the police treat reports of this nature seriously and take immediate action.
“While the firearm involved in this incident proved to be an airsoft rifle, we hope the swift response of our policing teams and the four arrests that followed provide the public with some reassurance.”
Imitation firearms, such as airsoft rifles, can cause significant public concern when seen in public settings due to their realistic appearance. Nottinghamshire Police continue to encourage residents to report any suspicious behaviour, ensuring swift action can be taken to maintain community safety.
Anyone with information about illegal firearms or other crimes can contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or report anonymously to Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.