FOUR men have been arrested for firearm offences following an early morning raid in Hartlepool.
Cleveland Police carried out the pre-planned operation this morning, acting upon intelligence suggesting that some people in the town were in possession of firearms.
At 7am armed officers and the force helicopter attended the scene, while a search warrant was executed at a house in Windsor Street in the town.
Four men, aged 18, 40 and two aged 19 were arrested on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm and are currently in police custody at Hartlepool Police Office helping with enquiries.
Chief Inspector Phil Veitch who led the operation stressed that the public were not at risk during this operation.
He said: "At no time were any members of the public placed at risk. The operation was very successful in the sense that it was carried out with the minimum disruption to the local community."
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