Update: Overstrand incident ongoing

Police remain at the scene of an on-going incident in Overstrand.

Officers were called just before 4pm yesterday (Thursday 26 September) following concerns for the safety of a man aged in his 40s who was in a distressed state, and had locked himself inside St Martins Church in Cromer Road.

The man is alone in the church and in significant mental health distress. He is believed to be carrying a knife.

Specialist trained police negotiators are currently at the scene and in conversation with him. Several police resources, including firearms officers, as well as emergency service colleagues are also there.

The church has been safely contained and there isn’t believed to be any wider threat to the public.

Chief Inspector Nick Paling said: “We would like to thank the public for their continued assistance and patience. Please stay away from the scene to allow emergency service and traffic to move around freely. We may need to close the road temporarily, and for short periods of time, but we’ll try to open it again as soon as we can.

“I know how concerning this is for the local community and I’d ask people to please bear with us, we don’t know how long this will continue but please know we will do everything possible to bring this to a safe conclusion as swiftly and carefully as possible.