Riot cops storm Portsmouth home after man threatens chaos with knife and fire
A man was arrested for the second time after a dramatic police stand-off at a Portsmouth property today. Riot gear-clad officers ordered the suspect to drop a knife before crashing the scene. The tense situation kicked off just after 11am amid growing concerns for the man’s welfare.
Man tries to torch home amid riot police stand-off
Reports say the man attempted to set fire to the property, prompting a swift police response. Portsmouth Road was sealed off by a police cordon this afternoon after the second public order incident in just three months at the same Widley Road address.
Last October, 26-year-old Ben McCreadie sparked a five-hour police siege after climbing onto the roof of the four-bedroom terraced house. The situation today echoed that event, with officers facing missiles like glass bottles and burning towels thrown from upstairs windows. The man also wielded a baseball bat alongside the knife before being arrested shortly after 2pm.
Mental health crisis fuels public danger and police action
Following October’s incident, McCreadie admitted to eight counts of criminal damage and an assault. Relatives revealed his ongoing mental health struggles and blasted the lack of support services. Campaigners say government austerity cuts have slashed mental health funding, leaving emergency services to bear the brunt.
Despite negotiators trying to defuse the situation, police eventually forced entry with a dozen officers, many in riot gear, to bring the drama to a close.
Police statement on dramatic Widley Road siege
A Hampshire Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called at 11.19am to reports of concern for the welfare of a man at an address in Widley Road, Portsmouth. Officers are currently at the scene and a cordon is in place to allow officers to deal with the incident safely.”
Authorities could not confirm if anyone else was inside the property during the stand-off.
