Police firearm accidentally discharged as armed police arrest man carrying meat cleaver in Tipton

Police were called to reports about the man on Laburnum Road at around 9pm on Saturday.

Armed officers were in attendance and found the 26-year-old in a garden in the area.

He was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and remains in custody.

During the incident, a single round from a police firearm was inadvertently discharged into the ground.

It happened as the officer swung the gun around, but nobody was injured as a result.

The discharge is being investigated and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been notified and has referred the incident to West Midlands Police Professional Standards Department.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon after we responded to concerns of a man carrying a meat cleaver in a Tipton street.

"It happened in Laburnum Road at around 9pm on Saturday night.

"Our armed officers attended the scene and found a 26-year-old man in a garden; he was arrested and remains in custody.

“During the deployment, a single round from a police firearm was inadvertently discharged into the ground while it was slung around the officer’s body and pointing downwards. No-one was injured.

"We’re investigating the circumstances around the discharge and will be working with ballistics experts as part of that investigation.

"We notified the IOPC and they have referred the incident back to us to be overseen by our Professional Standards Department."

A resident reported seeing armed police still in attendance at around 10pm, with the road still blocked off at that time.