Imitation firearm recovered after Lees Road drama
Date published: 02 November 2023
Police officers received a report of a man with a gun at a petrol station on Lees Road
Police officers in Oldham recovered an imitation firearm after a report came in from a member of the public.
In the late hours of yesterday (Wednesday) at around 11pm, Greater Manchester Police received a report of a man with a gun at a petrol station on Lees Road in Oldham.
Specialist firearms officers attended along with response patrols to the scene and arrested a 51-year-old man shortly after on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
He remains in custody for questioning.
On the discovery, Oldham District Commander Phil Hutchinson said: “I would firstly like to reassure the public these types of offences and incidents are a rarity in Oldham, but want to thank those who saw the incident for making us aware of this.
“Our swift response meant we were able to make an arrest as well as recover the firearm, which thankfully was an imitation - this prevented any further distress.
“We remain committed to remove illegally held firearms from our streets and will act on available intel when we receive it.
“Whether it was viable, or an imitation is irrelevant as these types of incidents can understandably cause concern in our communities, and we treat every single one with the upmost seriousness.
“Patrols remain in place with dedicated neighbourhood and response officers to ensure we provide high-visibility reassurance and support.”
Anyone with information that may help officers with their enquiries are asked to call 101 quoting incident 3885 of 01/11/2023.
Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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