No charges: Ermine ‘gun shots’ police probe continues a month on

Police have yet to charge anyone after gun shots were heard in the Ermine area of Lincoln almost a month ago, despite five arrests on suspicion of firearms and drugs offences.

As previously reported, armed police rushed to a property in Scopwick Place at around 9.45pm on Thursday, August 29 after noises “consistent with gun shots” were heard. Police cordoned off a flat opposite the Lincoln Imp pub, just off Riseholme Road before later confirming that nobody was injured.

Lincolnshire Police said at the time that they were investigating damage to two windows at the property.

Multiple police units, including armed police and the dog unit, were sent to Laughton Way and Retief Close the following day (August 30).

Officers carried out a number of warrants and searched multiple premises. Lincolnshire Police confirmed this was in relation to the incident on Scopwick Place.

Initially three men were arrested before it was later confirmed that the total had risen to five. The five men were later bailed.

  • A 28-year old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause GBH with intent
  • A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause GBH with intent
  • A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life
  • A 38 year- old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause GBH with intent
  • A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm without a certificate and possession with intent to supply a class B drug, cannabis

A sixth man, a 39-year-old, attended the police station voluntarily in connection with incident.

One of the two men being arrested

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said on Tuesday that there has been no change and “the investigation continues”. The five men remain on bail.

Lincolnshire Police are fighting drug dealers on the Ermine estate and previously said that crime has spiked by 30% in the area overall when compared to the same time just last year.

Nigel Key, the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for the area, previously told The Lincolnite: “I think that it’s understandable that people are shocked, but I don’t think that the Ermine is the ghetto that some people are making it out to be.

“In reality, incidents like Scopwick Place where shots have been fired is a rarity for the area and I want to reassure people that it is still a safe place to live. We want to urge anyone with information to come forward in the strictest confidence.”