Ornamental shotgun and two axes found in car stop in Cannock as man arrested
A man was arrested after a police search of a car uncovered several weapons, including an ornamental shotgun.
Officers from Staffordshire Police stopped a car on Thursday evening in Cannock and after checking the vehicle, uncovered the shotgun and two axes.
The driver, a 34-year-old man from Walsall, was arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and drug driving and remains in custody.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "We’ve arrested a man after finding an ornamental shotgun and two axes in the boot of a car in Cannock.
"At about 8pm last night (Thursday, January 16), officers acted on intelligence that a vehicle was travelling in the area that was potentially linked to criminal activity.
"We followed the driver until he came to a stop. When we searched the boot, we found the weapons inside and carried out a roadside drug test on the driver.
"A 34-year-old man, from Walsall, has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and drug driving. He remains in custody."
The arrest was made as part of Staffordshire Police's Operation Target, which aimed to tackle serious and organised crime across the county.
Between July 2024 and July 2025, the force says nearly 400 people were arrested in connection with organised crime offences and 40 weapons were recovered.
