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| Hove: Boy playing with Nerf gun stopped by armed police | |
| (12 days later) | |
| Sussex Police say toy guns should only be used on private property, with permission from the landowner (stock image) | Sussex Police say toy guns should only be used on private property, with permission from the landowner (stock image) |
| A mother says her 13-year-old son is "still in shock" and "struggling to sleep" after armed police confronted him and a friend while they played with a Nerf gun in a park. | A mother says her 13-year-old son is "still in shock" and "struggling to sleep" after armed police confronted him and a friend while they played with a Nerf gun in a park. |
| Annette, from Hove, Sussex, said the boys had been playing with the plastic gun in Greenleas Recreation Ground after dark on Saturday. | Annette, from Hove, Sussex, said the boys had been playing with the plastic gun in Greenleas Recreation Ground after dark on Saturday. |
| She said she was told two armed officers emerged from an unmarked car running towards the boys screaming "get down, get down". | She said she was told two armed officers emerged from an unmarked car running towards the boys screaming "get down, get down". |
| A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: "Toy guns should only be used on private property, with permission from the landowner." | A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: "Toy guns should only be used on private property, with permission from the landowner." |
| Annette told BBC Radio Sussex: "When I arrived at the park there were already four police cars and eight to 10 officers around the boys. | Annette told BBC Radio Sussex: "When I arrived at the park there were already four police cars and eight to 10 officers around the boys. |
| "When the armed officers realised they were holding toy guns they started talking to the boys. | "When the armed officers realised they were holding toy guns they started talking to the boys. |
| "I was so scared. It was unbelievable. I can only imagine how the boys were feeling at that moment. | "I was so scared. It was unbelievable. I can only imagine how the boys were feeling at that moment. |
| "It was a bit out of proportion. It looked a bit like an American action movie. It was too much." | "It was a bit out of proportion. It looked a bit like an American action movie. It was too much." |
| Annette says her son is struggling to sleep and is still shaken after the incident | Annette says her son is struggling to sleep and is still shaken after the incident |
| She said the officers were "very apologetic" afterwards and "really nice". | She said the officers were "very apologetic" afterwards and "really nice". |
| But she added: "My son is very shaken up. He doesn't want to play in the park any more." | But she added: "My son is very shaken up. He doesn't want to play in the park any more." |
| Sussex Police confirmed it received a report of young people with a suspected firearm in Hangleton Way at around 17:30 GMT on Saturday. | Sussex Police confirmed it received a report of young people with a suspected firearm in Hangleton Way at around 17:30 GMT on Saturday. |
| A spokesperson said: "Officers including armed officers attended, where it was established that these were children playing with a toy gun. | A spokesperson said: "Officers including armed officers attended, where it was established that these were children playing with a toy gun. |
| "Words of advice were given to the two boys and a parent, and the police response was stood down shortly after. | "Words of advice were given to the two boys and a parent, and the police response was stood down shortly after. |
| "We continue to advise young people, their parents and carers, to ensure toys, airsoft guns, BB guns or similar items are used safely and legally." | "We continue to advise young people, their parents and carers, to ensure toys, airsoft guns, BB guns or similar items are used safely and legally." |
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