Overview
- Sussex Police received a report around 11.10am on October 22 of a man seen with a suspected firearm on Frith Road in Bognor Regis.
- Armed officers and police dogs conducted searches as nearby schools, including The Regis School, enacted temporary lockdowns before reopening.
- By evening, Chief Inspector Dave Groombridge confirmed the person reported was a 14-year-old local boy in fancy dress carrying a toy gun.
- Officers visited the boy’s family and verified he had no offensive weapons, stating there is no threat to the wider community.
- Police are maintaining a visible presence and ask anyone with information or footage to call 101 quoting reference 450 of 22/10.