A KNIFE-wielding man was involved in a near-three-hour standoff with police. 

The man was blocking access to an address in Park Way, off Station Road by the Tesco, in West Moors on Tuesday night, April 16. 

Officers initially responded to a concern for welfare call shortly after 7pm and attempted to negotiate with the man with the knife. 

Eventually, just before 11pm, police officers stormed in the address and detained the man, who was taken to hospital. 

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Dorset Police received a report at 7.21pm on Tuesday 16 April 2024 raising concern for the welfare of a man at an address in Park Way in West Moors. 

“It was reported that the man was in possession of a knife and was preventing entry to the address. 

“Officers attended the scene and made efforts to engage with the man. Access was gained to the address at around 10.50pm, the man was detained and taken into the care of the ambulance service. 

“We would like to thank members of the local community for their patience and understanding as we responded to this incident, and we would like to reassure residents that there was no information to indicate any threat posed to the wider public.” 

A spokeswoman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said a crew from Redhill attended to assist the police and left at 9.47pm.