A SENIOR councillor has called for answers after a man was released without charge despite being part of a gang from which police officers had seized a haul of deadly weapons, cash and drug paraphernalia.

Officers seized these weapons from a fleeing 20-member group outside Firstsite, in Lewis Gardens, in Colchester, on Tuesday evening. 

When they approached the group, they tried to run off leaving two bags containing the weapons, drug paraphernalia and hundreds of pounds in cash.

Halstead Gazette:

One of the group, an 18-year-old man, became aggressive and was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

However, police say there was not enough evidence to connect him to the weapons and he was subsequently released without charge. 

Mike Lilley, Colchester Council’s councillor responsible for public safety, called the find “frightening”.

He said: “I have to say it is surprising the person who was arrested was released given what seems to have been found in the search - I find that very strange.

Halstead Gazette:

“I’ll be asking for some more detail on that.

“It is pretty clear the knives they seized are not hobby knives, they are there to be used in a terrible way.

“But I am happy the police are taking anti-social behaviour outside Firstsite seriously.

“We have seen an increase not only in that but also in the drug paraphernalia which is being found there and that’s not acceptable.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We take a zero tolerance approach to the carrying of knives and every weapon take off the streets is one less weapon that can fall into the wrong hands.

“These weapons will now be destroyed.”

Insp Danielle Booth, of Colchester community policing team, said: “Noticing a large group of people acting suspiciously, our officers had their concerns and carried out a search of the group.

“During this search, three large knives, drugs paraphernalia and a large amount of cash was discovered. 

“The man we arrested was later released without charge, however, the items seized have since been destroyed.

“By removing these items, we have helped prevent further crime in our community.”

A public spaces protection order which had been in place outside Firstsite to deter anti-social behaviour has expired.

It is understood Colchester Council bosses are considering reimplementing an order but not firm plans are in place.

Anyone with information on the group, or about knife and drug crime in general, should call Essex Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.