Police admit armed response blunder

Sussex Police has admitted making mistakes in the case of a Brighton pest controller who was confronted by an armed response team during a pigeon cull.

Graham Simmons (pictured), who had been contracted by the local council to do the work on 15 May, told local police of his plans two days before the cull took place.

In a statement to this magazine, Sussex Police explained that the information was not copied to another database? so responding officers were not immediately aware of his legitimate reason for being there.

Chief Inspector Mark Trimmer said: ?Our armed officers responded quite correctly to this call. We have no wish to inconvenience law-abiding people, but at the same time it is vital that we take proper precautions until the full facts are established in such incidents.

The rest of this article appears in 1st June issue of Shooting Times.

What is YOUR opinion?

Join other ST readers in our forums to discuss your views.

Like this article? Mark this page on a social bookmarking website…