Emergency incident involving 'firearm' in Eastbourne

The emergency incident involving a reported firearm in Eastbourne on 10 May 2026 was resolved after Sussex Police confirmed the weapon was a plastic toy gun.

Incident Details

• The Call: Police received reports at approximately 11:00 BST regarding an altercation between a man and a group of teenagers who appeared to have a gun on The Hydneye, Eastbourne.
• The Response: Officers quickly arrived on the scene and detained four boys aged between 13 and 16 for a search.
• The Discovery: One of the youths informed officers that the weapon had been thrown into a bush. Police put a safety cordon in place along the pathway at The Waterfront in Sovereign Harbour while they searched the area.
• Outcome: Officers recovered the item, verified it was a harmless plastic toy, lifted the cordon, and released the teenagers after giving them "words of advice". No injuries or viable threats to the public occurred.