ARMED police were deployed last night (May 25) after reports of a man with a handgun on Alcester Street- but the weapon was found to be an imitation.
Police responded to the reports at around 8.30pm and a teenage boy was detained on Hewell Road after having to be challenged by armed officers.
The weapon was seized, who established the gun as an imitation firearm.
The teenager, aged 16, was given a warning, released and collected by his mother.
Chief Insp Charles Parker said: “Due to the nature of the call armed officers were deployed to the scene, thankfully it was established the weapon was an imitation firearm and did not pose any threat, however, that was not known at the time, and we must treat every call as genuine.
”You might be messing about with your mates and waving the gun around, thinking it is a harmless bit of fun, but when we receive a report of youths with a gun in a public place our officers have to make a call as to just how much of a threat you are.
“They have to decide if the firearm is real, and it can be hard to tell from a distance. You do not want to be in a situation where you have firearms officers pointing real guns at you, and they don’t want to be in this position either.
“So please, before you head out with any imitation firearm or BB gun, think – do not put yourself in what could be a very dangerous situation.
“Carrying an Imitation Firearm in a Public place is a criminal offence, which could get yourself a criminal record for what may seem like harmless fun.”
