Arrests after reports of person with armed weapon in Hersham and nearby school placed in lockdown
Armed officers were among those dispatched to the scene, and road closures were put in place along Bell Farm Way on Tuesday (21 July 2026)
Last updated 24 hours ago
Police have been called to reports of a person with an armed weapon in Hersham.
Officers were called to Bell Farm Way at 3pm yesterday (Tuesday 21 July 2026) afternoon.
Armed officers were among those dispatched to the scene, and road closures were put in place along Bell Farm Way.
Two 18-year-old men were detained and arrested at the scene for possession of an offensive weapon. They are both currently in police custody.
Three Rivers Academy instigated a temporary lockdown procedure as a precaution to safeguard staff and students while officers carried out their initial enquiries.
Police say Three Rivers Primary School and Toad Hall Nursery also implemented their own safeguarding procedures in response to hearing about the nearby incident.
Also nearby, Bell Farm Primary School and Toad Hall Nursery placed themselves into lockdown after communication with Three Rivers Academy. These have now also been lifted and staff and children have left both sites.
All lockdowns were later lifted and students were able to go home.
Elmbridge Borough Commander Inspector Chris Thoday said:
“We take any report of this nature extremely seriously and had officers at the scene within minutes.
“The school and other education facilities nearby also quickly instigated their well-prepared safeguarding plans to ensure the safety of pupils and staff.
“We fully understand how concerning incidents like this are for our community and our investigation into the circumstances continues.
“Anyone with information which could assist us is asked to contact police if they have not already been spoken to.”