Man Arrested and Air Rifles Seized After Armed Police Response in Litherland

A 57-year-old man has been arrested and four air rifles seized following a police incident in Litherland on Wednesday, 5th March.

At around 8:30 PM, police received multiple reports of a man shouting abuse and making threats towards residents on Kirk Road. Concern grew when witnesses reported that he was in possession of a suspected firearm, prompting armed officers to respond to the scene.

The man, from Litherland, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm without a certificate and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place. He remains in police custody for questioning.

A subsequent search of a nearby home led officers to seize four air rifles, removing them from potential use in the community.

Detective Inspector Paul McVeigh praised the swift response of officers and reassured the public: “The sight of a man holding what appeared to be a viable firearm would have undoubtedly caused a lot of concern for local residents. To the untrained eye, air rifles can look like real firearms and create fear in the community.”

“By seizing these weapons, we have made our streets safer and taken a man into custody for questioning. We rely on community intelligence to discover where weapons are being stored and used, and we thank those who reported this incident.”

Police are urging residents to continue reporting any concerns about illegal weapons or criminal activity in their area.

Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police on 101, message the Merseyside Police Contact Centre, or report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.