Derbyshire Police Raid

nicakbari

Just hoping someone could offer me some advice please, the background is:

I have a shop with a flat above, in a small village in Derbyshire, I have been running my shop from this location for the past 31 years, and in the flat- a friend has been living there for the past 12 years. It has never-ever been any issues with police or any other authorities for that matter. However a few months ago received a call from Derbyshire Police sergeant informing me that while executing a warrant to search the flat for illicit drug cultivation, the front gate and front door of the flat were damaged and need replacing.  Obviously nothing was seized or found apart from a shocked –very frighten young man. Sergeant went on to say that the force will pay for damages and they either could organise for the repairs or I could do it and claim for it but it is best if I arrange it, which I did.  However  for many weeks afterwards -my emails, phone calls  and messages were ignored but when I persisted I  finally got a reply from their legal team saying that they not liable and refused my claim. I tried to contact The Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary but totally ignored. I wrote back to their legal and raised several points such as  initially I was promised to be paid for damages or the fact that not even the exact address was on warrant (warrant stated 51 whereas the actual address is 51A and they also damaged the gate belong to 49 which I had to pay as well). No specific reply just reiterating what happen was within the law and “should I wish to pursue this matter further then it would be necessary for proceedings to be issued.” I even do not know what that means, is it that I need to take the police to court? The video of the raid went viral and has damaged my 31 years of reputation and I feel I need to do find a way to address the injustice I feel.  I would really appreciated I would really appreciated if someone with a big heart and knowledge of these matters could take time to give me a little bit of  advice and tell me is any point of me pursing the issue further.

Mickey666

I would write to your MP, or perhaps arrange to meet with them - most hold regular 'surgeries' where constituents can raise issues like this.

missile

Make a formal complaint to Chief Constable, he MUST respond. 
I would speak with a solicitor. Most offer a free initial consultation.

nicakbari

I emailed her but she did not reply Thanks any way, I am getting in touch with my MP

Officer_Dibble

Might the local press be interested? As the video's circulated and your reputation's damaged I'd have thought it's a good story for them - though I suppose it's a bit of an invasion of privacy for your tenant. If he doesn't mind, I'd hazard a guess that they'll pay up the moment the paper contact them.

Sandtree

Why did you have to pay for a neighbours gate? How did they even damage a neighbours gate? 

Is 51 a different building to 51A, is it 51 is the shop and 51A the flat or....? Does Royal Mail PAF file officially recognise the two addresses as separate? 

Was the warrant issued against your tenant? Why didn't they open the door to the police?

molerat

Sandtree said:

 Why didn't they open the door to the police?

Most likely because you can't open the door in the 0.5 seconds you get between the knock and knocking the door down !