Armed police in Sussex - 16 times firearms officers were needed in 2018

A machete attack on Christmas Eve, an alleged gun factory and a tragic double murder were just some of the reasons armed police were called out in Sussex last year.

By Michael Drummond
Thursday, 7th February 2019, 5:13 pm
Updated Monday, 11th February 2019, 9:56 am
Armed police in Sussex
Armed police in Sussex

Here is a roundup of some of the incidents that firearms officers were called out to in 2018. All details accurate at time of incident reporting.

Armed police swarmed a neighbourhood in Haywards Heath in December following a fatal stabbing.

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Armed police were called to Gatwick Airport during the drone chaos over Christmas
Armed police were on scene at in incident at Birling Gap in November 2018. Three men who were in a car parked at the beauty spot were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of offensive weapons.
Two boys were arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment after armed police raided an Eastbourne home in September last year. Firearms officers discovered a machete and Samurai sword at the property, following an investigation into alleged cuckooing.
Police said a woman armed with a hammer was arrested after a five-hour stand-off with armed police in February last year. Around 16 police cars, including riot squads and armed dogs units, ambulances and fire engines were seen in Southwick.
Armed officers and a helicopter were called to a property in Hailsham in September following a report of four men behaving in a threatening manner. Officers searched the area but at the time said the suspects were not found.
Armed police were seen in Braybrooke Terrace in Hastings, near the railway station in November. The scene was cordoned off by police but the nature of the incident was not known at the time.
A man suffered serious injuries after a 'machete attack' in Rustington on Christmas Eve last year. Police said officers were called shortly before midday to a report of a man attacking another with a machete in Lawrence Avenue.
Three men were arrested after firearms were found on an industrial estate in Hailsham in August 2018. Armed officers swarmed on Diplocks Way as Sussex Police and the National Crime Agency investigated an incident close to the the Hailsham by-pass. Read more at: https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/three-arrested-after-armed-police-called-to-hailsham-industrial-estate-1-8606254
A man was arrested after being seen with what was believed to be a gun in Chichester in October.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of kidnap and unlawful possession of a firearm following an incident in Eastbourne. Armed police were called to an address in Wakehurst Road in September.
Armed police were part of the large emergency services response in St Leonards in March last year after two people were murdered.
Armed police were called to reports that a woman was being held hostage in Worthing in February 2018. A police spokesman said at the time: "Police are talking with the woman, who was unharmed, and enquiries continue to establish what happened."
Armed police swooped on an area in Crawley in December following reports of a man waving a sword around in the street.Police say that the incident happened near Three Bridges railway station.
A Sompting road was cordoned last February as police dealt with a gunman. Police said Busticle Lane was shut off at 7.30pm after a man was seen holding a gun and was making threats to kill. He was disarmed and the scene made safe.
In July 2018 firearms officers entered a Selsey home after the caller claimed that intruders armed with a gun and a knife were inside. Detectives said they suspect it stemmed from a hoax 999 call.