Police Raid on House

[Little Dave]

Some advice please (Not motoring related)

My neighbours house was raided by 8 BiB's and a very excitable Springer Spaniel this morning. It turns out that their lodger was a source of recreational drugs for the local community.Unfortunately for my neighbours the BiB's were very forceful in gaining entry to the house and from what I have seen were not very considerate while searching the premises. My neighbour estimates that damage to front door, bathroom door, lodgers room and some vases etc amounts to circa £1500.

He was told by the officer in charge that the Police are not liable for any damage caused and that it was his fault for having a lodger like that.

Is this correct that there is no recourse and do the Police have a Duty of Care while searching premises?

TIA

Edited by Little Dave on Wednesday 6th February 14:51

[MK4 Slowride]

I've just bought a flat and intend to get a lodger so this is not good.

You'd have thought the police would show some respect but you never know what sort this dealer was and he might have stashed some 'stuff' in the vase's etc so needed to be searched/smashed.

They do have a point though, really qualify your lodgers before getting them to sign.

[tigger1]

I think all the police need to do is "make it secure" which can be as little as a plyboard door...

[JustinP1]

I am pretty sure I saw on one of the fly on the wall police documentaries that the police paid for it to be repaired!

However, the situation is slightly different in that in that situation I think they smashed down the door to the wrong house...

I may have thought in any case the landlord would have legal recourse against the lodger for the cost involved in their breach of contract - that is if the contract forbids illegal activities on the premises.

[twistedsanity]

no chance

[Chrisgr31]

A friend of mine had his front door smashed in by the Police, unfortunately they were unaware the drug dealer they had under "constant" surveilance had moved out the day before.

They paid for the damage, but I'd guess they only have to pay for damage when they find no evidence.

[Mg6b]

Chrisgr31 said:

A friend of mine had his front door smashed in by the Police, unfortunately they were unaware the drug dealer they had under "constant" surveilance had moved out the day before.

They paid for the damage, but I'd guess they only have to pay for damage when they find no evidence.

You are right. Not liable for damage if the subject matter the warrant covers is found.

Rapid entry to the premises is required in most cases so that the target is taken by surprise and does not get a chance to dispose of the evidence that is sought. It also creates confusion and this is beneficial to the officers entering on an officer safety basis.

PACE states that the search should be reasonable and the premises should be left reasonably in tact when the search is completed. That does not mean that the officers tidy up and put away mountains of clothes or do the washing up before they leave. It is about not causing unnecessary damage to the property whilst the search is carried out.

You neighbour has no recourse to the police for the damage if they found illegal substances on his premises.

[Little Dave]

Thanks for your replies. Unfortunately for my neighbours the police removed scales and a reasonable amount of cannabis so I guess even though it has nothing to do with them, they are out of pocket.

[Chrispy Porker]

keep his deposit?

[wolf1]

Hmm not sure about the legalities of it but I'd be holding the lodger liable for the cost of the repairs (After recieving satisfactory payment the issue of bringing drugs into my house would be then dealt with)

[Scraggles]

If the lodger was a Muslim, then none of this would have happened as the police would have to contact the local iman first to make sure not to upset them, they would not be allowed to wear shoes in the house etc...

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTI... but have seen it reported locally as well

Somehow suspect that the ex lodger will not be able to pay for the damage, maybe household insurance under all risks might be worth it

[Sheriff JWPepper]

dickkark said:

thats just bloody typical of the plod in this country.

What? Catching drug dealers?

[Greendubber]

What dickkark] said:

.

Someone else who has nominated themselves for 'Complete Fist Of The Year' award.

You clearly know very little about Police Work, any need for the pointless abuse and fantasies about someone breaking into my house and taking a dump?. Whats your point about the cannabis?, got any proof to back that up?.

No....get back to sitting in your cab for 9 hours a day reading Razzle.

By the way, its spelt 'BURGLARS', not 'BURGULARS'.

Edited by The Tuscan Rat on Sunday 10th February 06:37

[Ordinary Bloke]

Yep, I've got to say, what's the problem with policepeople catching drug dealers? You'd rather they set up a speed camera at the end of the road instead???

New doors are relatively cheap...

[fluffnik]

Ordinary Bloke said:

Yep, I've got to say, what's the problem with policepeople catching drug dealers?

If we did the sensible thing and legalised, taxed and regulated drug sales we'd:

• get revenue from the drugs trade.
• save on expensive drug squads.

[Ordinary Bloke]

fluffnik said:

Ordinary Bloke said:

Yep, I've got to say, what's the problem with policepeople catching drug dealers?

If we did the sensible thing and legalised, taxed and regulated drug sales we'd:

• get revenue from the drugs trade.
• save on expensive drug squads.

But Homebase would lose a lot of door sales...

[fluffnik]

Ordinary Bloke said:

fluffnik said:

If we did the sensible thing and legalised, taxed and regulated drug sales we'd:

• get revenue from the drugs trade.
• save on expensive drug squads.

But Homebase would lose a lot of door sales...

Ah!

• be kinder to forests

[Uncle Fester]

Basically, if the Police are right (they find the evidence the search warrant was for) then they don’t pay.
If they have raided an innocent person (defined as they didn’t find the evidence), they pay.
Remember, if they pay for knocking down doors, then you and I pay via our taxes.
Now I accept that part of the cost of having law and order (do we have law and order? discuss) is that we pay for the Police, including their mistakes.
But this sounds as though they have their man bang to rights. Why should you and I pay for the door?
It’s rough on the homeowner if he’s innocent. He may well have had no idea, or he may be blind to the number of odd people coming to the door for just long enough to score.
Imagine the story was about a criminal family who were all always causing trouble. One (not the homeowner) had done a crime, but the others hadn’t been involved in that particular crime.
If I were your neighbour, then I would just be grateful to have found out the truth about my lodger. On the assumption that the lodger is dishonest in one area, he is probably dishonest in others. Given time he would have stolen everything; got his kids into drugs; had various heavies from his suppliers round looking for payment on the drugs.
For all you know, your neighbour realised what was happening, called the Police himself and asked them to make it look good so the scrote didn’t blame him and come looking for revenge. (when he gets bail and a ridiculous sentence).

[Pickled Piper]

Are you really telling me the your friend had no idea what the lodger was up to? The Police found cannabis and scales on site and must have had some evidence of the lodger's activities in order to get the warrant. Despite all this your friend had no idea?

Perhaps he should keep a closer eye on the people living under his roof.

pp

[Jasandjules]

Pickled Piper said:

Are you really telling me the your friend had no idea what the lodger was up to? The Police found cannabis and scales on site and must have had some evidence of the lodger's activities in order to get the warrant. Despite all this your friend had no idea?

Perhaps he should keep a closer eye on the people living under his roof.

pp

Perhaps there were some lovely smells coming from the room which chilled said friend out enough so he didn't mind, man...

As above, I don't think plod are required to do anything to compensate you for a lack of door when the house was used for criminal activities.