A man has been charged with perverting the course of justice after a hoax call to police.
Late on Tuesday morning armed police responded to a call from a member of the public who said a man with a gun was in Polson St.
Police contacted schools and businesses in the area and asked them to take precautions for their safety. But a short investigation determined that the call was malicious, Senior Sergeant Andrew McDonald said.
"This call not only resulted in a waste of police resources but caused some significant stress for the schools and businesses in the area," he said.
A 28-year-old man was arrested and appeared in the Whanganui District Court yesterday, charged with a number of offences including perverting the course of justice.