Man arrested and shotgun seized in Old Swan

We arrested a man and seized a shotgun and ammunition at a house in Old Swan today (Wednesday 6 April).

Officers attended flats in the area just before 2.50pm where they found a shotgun, ammunition and two grenades in a bag in a communal cupboard at the property.

The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team attended and carried out the safe detonation of the grenades on land off Aintree Lane.

A 27-year-old man from Old Swan was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm without a certificate possession of an explosive with intent to endanger life or injure property, and possession of ammunition without a certificate. He has been taken into custody to be questioned.

Detective Inspector Steve McGrath said: “This is a significant recovery and it goes without saying that in the wrong hands, they could have been used to cause serious injury or worse in our communities.

“I want to reassure those communities that every day of the year, Merseyside Police is carrying out warrants, stop searches, arrests and land searches to find weapons in circulation and remove them from our streets.

“We have a dedicated Firearms Investigation Team whose job it is to find guns, take them off the streets and forensically examine them so that those who have handled and used them are brought to justice for their crimes. Through targeted operations across Merseyside, our officers disrupt those criminals involved in serious and organised crime who are prepared to store and use such weapons.

“Every one we recover and every offender put behind bars removes the risk of them causing any more fear, intimidation or harm here in Merseyside.

“As well as carrying out this activity and gathering intelligence, the support of communities is an absolutely vital part of our efforts to protect the public.

“Information given to us has helped us locate weapons and arrest offenders, and I would ask that the public continue to be our eyes and ears.”

If you have got any information about the use or storage of weapons please DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online/