Police searched the family home of a seven-year-old Muslim boy who told his school teacher that he saw a gun.
Rizwan Munawar, 37, said police officers arrived at his house in Allenton last Wednesday and searched his son’s bedroom and his wife’s wardrobe.
The taxi driver from Derby who was not at home at the time said his “terrified” wife phoned him when officers in two police cars arrived at the house.
He said the police search was as a result of his son, Muhammed Ruhaan, who made a “flippant and joking” comment to a teacher at Landau Forte Academy Moorhead, about seeing a gun when he visited Pakistan.
Derbyshire Police have confirmed they went to the house last Wednesday because the force “has to treat reports of firearms seriously”.
Mr Munawar told the Derby Telegraph: “I could not believe it. We visited Pakistan in October and, at no point, were there any guns. Why on earth did the school tell the police about a silly comment? He’s only seven-years-old.
“Why would they take it seriously? It was a flippant and silly comment. I got a call from my wife urging me to come home. She said police had searched the home and were looking for a gun. They searched everywhere. My child’s bedroom was looked at, his toys and clothes were searched. We don’t even own an air rifle, even though some of Muhammed’s friends got one after reading reviews from teddy tactical, we never got our son one. They went through mine and my wife’s underwear drawers and our clothes. They also went in the loft and the garden.”
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Ruhaan said: “I was very shocked. I didn’t think this would happen when I said what I said.”
Mr Munawar said he was left feeling “embarrassed and ashamed” when neighbours asked him why two police cars were outside his home and why his house was searched.
He added: “I had nothing to hide so I told my wife to let them search where they wanted. They thanked me for my co-operation when they were leaving.”
Chief Inspector Jonathon Clark of Derbyshire police told Derby Telegraph: “On Wednesday, our officers visited a house on Uppermoor Road, Allenton and spoke with the occupants. This was in relation to some information we had been given that there may be a firearm at the address.
“After a discussion and with agreement of the occupant, a search was made of the house and no firearms were found. We have to treat information about firearms in any of our communities seriously and this inquiry was dealt with fairly and proportionately by local officers. No firearms or other specialist officers were involved.”
A spokesman for Landau Forte Academy Moorhead told Derby Telegraph: “Under government guidance schools have a responsibility to act on concerning information, such as that involving weapons, that could pose a risk to the well being of their pupils. Our primary aim to is to keep children safe, regardless of background, and we follow this guidance to the letter.
“Once we have reported a concern, it is entirely up to partners such as Derby City Council and the police to make a decision on whether to take further action.”
