Tony Martin '˜faces no charge' after police raid at Emneth

West Norfolk farmer Tony Martin will not face any charges over a raid at his home in Emneth by police looking for illegal firearms.

A statement from Norfolk Police said a 71-year-old man arrested and bailed in connection with firearms offences after a planned police operation in Emneth Hungate in December, will face no further action.

PA file photo dated 19/08/2003 of Farmer Tony Martin who was arrested Thursday 12 February 2004 on suspicion of stealing number plates, it emerged tonight. Martin - jailed for shooting dead a teenage burglar at his remote farmhouse - was released on police bail. Cambridgeshire Police said a 59-year-old man from the Wisbech area had been arrested for suspected theft of number plates. The man was arrested some time this afternoon, a spokeswoman said. See PA Story POLICE Martin. PA Photo PA*930736

placeholder image — PA file photo dated 19/08/2003 of Farmer Tony Martin who was arrested Thursday 12 February 2004 on suspicion of stealing number plates, it emerged tonight. Martin - jailed for shooting dead a teenage burglar at his remote farmhouse - was released on police bail. Cambridgeshire Police said a 59-year-old man from the Wisbech area had been arrested for suspected theft of number plates. The man was arrested some time this afternoon, a spokeswoman said. See PA Story POLICE Martin. PA Photo PA*930736

The statement continued: “Officers, who carried out searches on Thursday 31 December, acted on credible intelligence of illegal firearms at a property resulting in a man being arrested in Wisbech and taken into police custody, where he was questioned. He was subsequently bailed until February 2016 pending further enquiries.”

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Coller said: “Public safety is paramount and Norfolk Constabulary takes all reports of firearms seriously.

“Following the arrest a thorough search, under Section 18 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), was conducted and officers seized a firearm, which was believed to be an air weapon. However following further enquiries, it was deemed not to be a viable weapon due to its condition.”

Mr Martin shot Fred Barras dead in August 1999 as the 16-year-old burgled his home in Emneth with another man. He was convicted of murder, later reduced to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, and served three years in prison