Surrey police siege: Police hunting suspected gunman following stand-off during drugs raid in Smallfield

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A suspected gunman who caused a Surrey street to be locked down by armed police for 10 hours is on the run after apparently escaping a police cordon.

Officers are warning members of the public not to approach Paul Hodge, 57, who is wanted on suspicion of drugs and firearms offences.

A pre-planned raid was being carried out on a home in Smallfield, near Gatwick Airport, at 6am on Thursday morning when a man was reportedly seen with a gun.

A resident told the Get Surrey website described the area closed down by a heavy police presence and people unable leave their homes as the operation continued, adding: “There’s a guy in his house with a firearm refusing to get out of his house.

"Armed police are surrounding his house and the helicopter has been flying over since 6.30am."

A woman in her 40s was arrested inside the property on suspicion of drugs offences, while a man in his 20s and another in his late teens were arrested for obstructing police.

Several suspected guns were recovered but the armed man was not found after a stand-off with police that lasted 10 hours in the belief he remained inside.

Police admitted they could have been guarding an empty house for some time, or that Hodge had not been present when they arrived.

Detective Inspector Paul Burrill said: “Officers responded to information that a further man was inside the property on Careys Wood and was believed to be in a possession of a suspected firearm.

“Following a thorough search of the property with assistance from a police helicopter and the Surrey Police Dog Unit but no-one was located inside the address.

“I would urge anyone who knows his whereabouts not to approach him but to contact Surrey Police immediately on 999.”

A search has been widened to include the Redhill area to trace Hodge and raids were also carried out at 15 other addresses across Surrey as part of the drug investigation, entitled Operation Aragon with a total of 10 people being arrested as a result.

The warrants were issued as part of large scale investigation into the supply of class A drugs.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey Police quoting Operation Aragon or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.