Reports of a woman brandishing a samurai sword led to armed officers being deployed to the Isle of Wight from the mainland on Friday night.
Police units were seen initially responding to Ryde Pier Head at around 8pm, where extra firearms officers were collected from a force launch and subsequently taken to the scene in School Street.
A 53 year old woman was detained on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and remains in custody.
No one was injured.