Police called to Southsea after man seen with rifle
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Officers went to Albert Road around 1pm and found the man with a rifle but after investigation found that it was not loaded, held legally and he had a ‘reasonable excuse’ to have it in public as it was being transported for use on private land.
Police also found a knife on the man and this was seized.
Wayne Nelson saw a man carrying what he thought to be a rifle in Fawcett Road just before 1pm yesterday.
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The 57-year-old from Waterlooville said: 'I pulled into Fawcett Road near Albert Road, and right in front of me was a guy carrying a rifle.
'It was in a green canvas bag, and you could see the butt of the rifle, and its sights and barrel. It was about 3ft long.
'I followed him all the way down Fawcett Road - he was looking into shops and acting suspiciously. He wasn't dressed smartly.
'I have garages in the area and I have never seen him before, and I've never seen anyone carrying anything like that in public before.’
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Hide AdA police spokesman added: ‘We were called at around 1pm yesterday to reports of a man with a rifle on Albert Road. Officers located the man and established that the firearm was held legally, it was not loaded, and he had reasonable excuse to have it in public at that time.
‘He was searched under section 1 Pace and a knife was found, the officer did not feel he had reasonable excuse for this. The knife was seized and the offence will be dealt with outside of custody.’
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