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Inquiry into wrong address police raid
Wednesday 20th May 2009, 2:35PM BST.
A police investigation was under way today after a woman claimed her house in Shrewsbury was wrongly targeted by officers who smashed down her front door in a terrifying dawn raid.
Furious Kerry Chidley, of Berwick Avenue, said herself, her partner Mike Thomas, and her two children aged four and seven, awoke at 6.55am today to the sound of police officers smashing their way into her home.
She said her brother, Matthew Chidley, who also lives with them, was knocked to the floor and pinned down by officers on the landing as he went to see what was going on.
The 26-year-old hairdresser said police were looking for someone who did not even live at the property.
Maria Hawkaluk, spokeswoman for West Mercia Police, said: “Police executed a warrant at an address in Berwick Avenue shortly before 7am this morning.
“The occupant has since contacted police with some concerns about the incident which will be looked into.”
Miss Hawkaluk confirmed officers had since visited the property following the raid to speak to the occupant.
Miss Chidley said she was outraged by the actions of the police and was now considering launching a formal complaint against West Mercia Police.
She said she had received an apology from a police sergeant this morning who said the force would be paying for the cost of a new door and frame. Miss Chidley said: “We kept saying to them you have got the wrong house, you have got the wrong person.”
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no comment from the well oiled police media machine? they always seem to be all to willing to wheel out all and sundry when someone has helped emily and jemima across the road. being able to confront mistakes is the real make of a man.
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They managed to get things sorted promptly for the back-slapping exercise elsewhere in the paper.
Mistakes are made,let’s have an explanation and an apology and get on with life. Let he has not made a mistake cast the firsdt stone, anyone know of a cheap glazier?
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Never mind “Mistakes are made” Baz…how about a law suit for assault and harrassment?
It does not suprise me that this has happened…Yet another example of West Mercia and their appalling behaviour!
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what a shock for these people whom are law abiding citizens, what happened? i suppose there will be a cover up and no comment made, shame they dont use there valuable resourses on there database . i believe a warrant was issued for the said person they pressumed lived there,is it difficult to check the social security database as to where the said person was getting there benefits from? now the west mercia police should come out and comment at the least plus the damage paid to the house holder as work was missed . do tax payers always pay for unnecessary blunders. no wonder people have no respect for the law .
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Typical, always moaning about our Police Force in this country. They are the best in the world. Compared to other European countries they have the best detection rates, and surely everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Wouldn’t everyone say “You have the wrong house”?
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RE: John Smith
As you appear to so knowledgeable in law. Explain to me the definitions of assault and harrassment without looking up…
I’ll educated poster…Maybe our police force should adopt other european countries. See the moaning then!!
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whats wrong with the star ? dont they like a good argument?
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PC Plod:
Assault; to apprehend immediate unlawful personal violence, as by raising a fist, weapon, aiming a kick, throwing a stone or making some other menacing gesture.
Harassment: A course of conduct which the defendant knows or should know amounts to harassment, which includes alarming the victim or causing them personal distress.
Do I get a commendation?
To be honest, I am surprised that the Police didn’t go away when they were told it was the wrong house. Perhaps if the victim had told them in Polish things might have been different. And which is better on the Police Top Trumps game, a crow bar or battering ram? And did they really think that this house concealed their trailer that was stolen from under their noses out of their own compound? I for one hope an inquiry answers these questions.
My front door is a bit ropey so I’m going to ring Crime Stoppers anonymously and tell them that Shergar and Osma Bin Laden are in my spare room.
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From what I have read, they did make a mistake, they have said sorry, and they are paying to put the door and frame right… These things happen. Our police do have a very difficult job. Im sure we all make mistakes..
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confused: but even fools learn by their mistakes.
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