Armed police swarm around Bognor Regis seafront hotel to reports of a ‘man in distress carrying a knife’
- Armed officers were snapped around the Royal Norfolk Hotel on The Esplanade
- The ‘ongoing incident’ in West Sussex involves a man in distress, police have said
- Part of seafront has been cordoned off and drone is being used to survey area
A huge armed police presence was spotted outside a seafront hotel in Bognor Regis this morning after reports of a ‘man in distress, who was in possession of a knife’.
The officers were pictured around the Royal Norfolk Hotel on The Esplanade in West Sussex, and a specialist negotiator was called in to assist the ‘ongoing situation’, police said.
Part of the seafront has been cordoned off and police have warned residents to avoid the area.
Both uniformed and officers in plain clothes were seen in the surrounding area by onlookers this morning.
A huge armed police presence is outside a seafront hotel in Bognor Regis (pictured) after reports of a ‘man in distress’
The armed officers were pictured around the Royal Norfolk Hotel on The Esplanade and part of the seafront has been cordoned off
A large number of police cars and vans were parked in streets close by and a drone was being used to survey the scene, witnesses revealed.
Police said the ‘isolated incident’ was ‘contained to one property, and we have no information at this stage to suggest anyone else is inside, or that there is any threat to the wider community.’
A statement from the Sussex Police read: ‘Police are currently dealing with an ongoing incident in The Esplanade, Bognor Regis.
‘About 9.28am on Monday 20 April, Sussex Police received a report of a man in distress, who was in possession of a knife, at the Royal Norfolk Hotel.
A Sussex Police spokesperson said the ‘ongoing incident’ in West Sussex involves a ‘man in distress’. Pictured: Armed officers in the area
Both uniformed and officers in plain clothes were seen in the surrounding area by onlookers this morning
‘A specialist negotiator has been called in to assist and the incident remains ongoing.
‘In order to protect police and the public, a cordon has been set up in the immediate area.’
Superintendent Justin Burtenshaw said: ‘I’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we continue to respond to this ongoing incident.
‘Please continue to adhere to the government’s guidelines on social distancing, and avoid The Esplanade in particular.
‘Due to the nature of the incident, the public can expect to see a heightened police presence in the area.
‘This is an isolated incident contained to one property, and we have no information at this stage to suggest anyone else is inside, or that there is any threat to the wider community.’