Police arrest knife carrying man after foot chase in Gateshead

Rapid response officers have been praised after they managed to detain a man carrying two swords in an early morning foot chase.

At around 5am today (Thursday) police were on patrol when they spotted a man on Bensham Road in possession of what they believed to be a knife.

However, when they stopped the car and approached the man, he sprinted off in a bid to evade arrest.

A short foot chase ensued with the officers calling for backup, and the man, aged 22, was detained nearby and arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article.

He was taken into custody where he remains at this time, and two swords measuring more than one foot each were recovered from the area.

Praising the quick work of officers, Inspector Steven Clare of Northumbria Police said:

“As a Force, we regularly patrol our communities and are ready to act whenever we see something suspicious or that doesn’t look right.

“On this occasion, officers spotted a man who they believed was carrying a weapon – and those suspicions were heighted when, instead stopping to talk, he ran away at speed to try and avoid them.

“Determined, the officers gave chase and soon recovered two blades from the area and arrested the man, who remains in custody at this time.

“Knife crime is a serious issue and I hope our communities know we working hard to deter people and prevent offences from taking place, as well as relentlessly pursuing those found to be involved in serious violence.

“I want to thank the officers involved in this job for their swift work in ensuring a man was arrested and that two weapons which had the potential to cause serious harm will be safely destroyed. and – Enquiries into the incident will remain ongoing.

“As ever, we’d ask our communities to help us in the fight against knife crime and report anything suspicious to us or Crimestoppers.”

To report an incident, use the ‘Tell us Something’ page on our website. In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always dial 999.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.