Commenting on a Police Ombudsman report issued today relating to police attendance in the Donegall Road area of north Belfast on 10th September 2025, Chief Superintendent Stephen Murray, head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Professional Standards Department, said: "We welcome the Police Ombudsman's office concluding that our officers had been right to treat this report as a potentially serious threat and, contrary to the complaint, excessive force had not been used.

“Police officers have to make difficult decisions in challenging circumstance every day.  In this case, this was a serious report of someone brandishing what was believed to be a firearm in the Donegall Street area of Belfast. Officers responded quickly and it transpired, during a search, this was a toy resembling a firearm, however, the fear and perceived threat to the public was there.

“Police treat all reports involving firearms extremely seriously in order to protect the public and our officers. When such reports are received, officers must respond quickly and take appropriate action to ensure that any potential threat is safely contained.  We would remind members of the public of the very real dangers of presenting items that look like firearms in public. Such actions cause fear within the community and present significant risks.”