A private security company sparked a major armed police response in Waltham Abbey, Essex, after staging a fake kidnapping scenario without notifying authorities. Officers responded to reports that a woman had been dragged from her car at gunpoint on Tuesday afternoon.
Essex Police dispatched all available units, including five double-crewed armed response vehicles and a police helicopter, following the 999 call from a member of the public. Armed officers surrounded the suspects and conducted stop-and-searches on several vehicles in the area.
However, upon detaining the individuals, police discovered they were employees of a security company carrying out a training exercise. The company had not informed the force of the drill, assuming it was unnecessary to do so.
Brentwood and Epping Forest police recorded the incident as a public order offence due to the alarm and distress caused to witnesses who believed they were witnessing a violent crime involving a firearm. In a Facebook post, officers criticised the company, stating: 'This could have gone horribly wrong... Perhaps notify Essex police next time or better still, train somewhere else.'
Police apologised to any residents who were stopped and searched during the operation. The company involved has not been named.
