Alleged Sighting Of Firearm Sparks Police Presence

Dunedin Police cordoned off an area of the suburb of Pine Hill early this afternoon, after receiving a report of a person with a firearm.

Police received a call at approximately 12.45pm that people were `looking at' a rifle in the yard of a Pine Hill Road property on the corner of Hillary Street. A number of Black Power live at the property.

The Police Armed Offenders Squad was called out and Pine Hill Road was cordoned off in the vicinity of the property. The AOS cleared the premises and searched the 18 occupants.

Police liaised closely with Liberton Christian School, which is adjacent to the property, to ensure the safety of the children, who were kept inside the school building while the searches were completed.

No arrests were made and no firearms were found. However a number of weapons, including knives and axes, were seized.

The cordons were lifted at approximately 3pm.

Dunedin Emergency Response Commander, Inspector Alastair Dickie said:

"We would like to reassure members of the public that there was no risk to public safety. Police were quickly at the scene to investigate the information they received."