Officers should arrest themselves says Bromley man after 'joke' operation (From News Shopper)
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'Officers should arrest themselves' says Bromley man after 'joke' operation in Havelock Road
11:20am Sunday 23rd September 2012 in News By Robert Fisk
Colin North says officers should arrest themselves for wasting police time
OFFICERS should arrest themselves for wasting police time after ‘a joke’ operation saw cops try to arrest a suspect at his old house after he had already been taken into custody.
This is the view of Colin North who has been left baffled by the policing methods of the Met after his encounter with the long arm of the law.
He was awoken by two police officers banging on his door in Havelock Road, Bromley Common, looking for an old housemate who had not lived at the property for at least six months.
The 29-year-old thought they had got the message and then learned the cops had arrested his former housemate at an address in Chelsfield.
But then two days after the first visit his girlfriend answered the door to five policemen who had arrived in a police van.
Mr North said: “She told them they had already arrested our old housemate.
“The officers should arrest themselves for wasting police time.
“If they turn up again it really will be a joke, it will be a joke in the way they are handling the investigation.
“When they made the arrest you would think it would be down in their information banks instead of them being sent out to arrest him at a house he does not live at just two days later.”
The machine operator added: “At first when I opened the door and saw the two police officers I thought the worst.
“And when they said can we see ID and I had to get my passport I felt under suspicion.”
A Bromley police spokesman said: "Police called at the address looking for a male in connection with an allegation of criminal damage, assault and theft, but were advised he had left the address six months previously leaving no forwarding address. “The male was tracked to a new address and arrested the following day.”
He says they have no record in the police computer about a second visit to the address in Havelock Road.
Comments(23)
Biggin Hill Resident
says...
4:14pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Puh-lease.
Why are you giving this "man" the time of day NS?
In fact, I think the police should go and arrest him... for being an oxygen thief.
And NS - I'll be instructing my lawyers to claim compensation for the time I spent reading this "article".
DrDBexley
says...
5:02pm Sun 23 Sep 12
plasticfantastic wrote:Acutally quite worrying if you ask me:
What a non story this is.
"He says they have no record in the police computer about a second visit to the address in Havelock Road. "
So the Police co*k up and there response, rather than admit it, is to admit actually something worse!! Not having records of where police are, what they're up to, why they're up to etc - not good.
cookster
says...
6:05pm Sun 23 Sep 12
plasticfantastic
says...
6:11pm Sun 23 Sep 12
DrDBexley wrote:I can understand how this has happened, and it's hardly a big deal really.
plasticfantastic wrote:Acutally quite worrying if you ask me:
What a non story this is.
"He says they have no record in the police computer about a second visit to the address in Havelock Road. "
So the Police co*k up and there response, rather than admit it, is to admit actually something worse!! Not having records of where police are, what they're up to, why they're up to etc - not good.
In the scheme of things, it really isn't worrying at all.
I would imagine a particular unit was assigned to it, but the CAD operator didn't physically assign them under their number, and probably another unit was assigned for the second visit. When you consider the thousands of CADS Met wide each day, it's not really a news story and really not a bid deal.
DrDBexley
says...
6:32pm Sun 23 Sep 12
plasticfantastic wrote:Perhaps not in this case, but lets say this case resulted in a charge being brought against an officer of say sexual assault. It goes to court and the court ask to confirm the details for the officer in attendance.
DrDBexley wrote:I can understand how this has happened, and it's hardly a big deal really.
plasticfantastic wrote:Acutally quite worrying if you ask me:
What a non story this is.
"He says they have no record in the police computer about a second visit to the address in Havelock Road. "
So the Police co*k up and there response, rather than admit it, is to admit actually something worse!! Not having records of where police are, what they're up to, why they're up to etc - not good.
In the scheme of things, it really isn't worrying at all.
I would imagine a particular unit was assigned to it, but the CAD operator didn't physically assign them under their number, and probably another unit was assigned for the second visit. When you consider the thousands of CADS Met wide each day, it's not really a news story and really not a bid deal.
"Ah, sorry your honour, we don't know. A CAD operator didn't assign it under the correct number".
Mistakes like this are ok, so long as they are learned from, and to learn from them they at least need to be accepted by the police.
plasticfantastic
says...
8:29pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Lukeyboy
says...
9:13am Mon 24 Sep 12
plasticfantastic
says...
10:00am Mon 24 Sep 12
Lukeyboy wrote:He was at home, unlikely that he would not have any ID don't you think!!!
And what if the chap who answered the door did not have any ID on him? Would the police have just accepted he was who he said he was and not the guy they were looking for? Doubt it. This is extremely serious. Someone within the police force needs to be held accountable.
Mountain out of a molehill. The police will save your arse when needed, stop slagging them off for minor little mistakes like this. Get a grip!
Lukeyboy
says...
11:02am Mon 24 Sep 12
Bob Downondiss
says...
11:12am Mon 24 Sep 12
plasticfantastic
says...
12:10pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Lukeyboy wrote:It's unlikely because he was at home. Do you not have any form of ID in your home?
Why is it unlikely plasticfantastic? They (you) messed up, just accept it and move on.
Lukeyboy
says...
12:41pm Mon 24 Sep 12
plasticfantastic wrote:You are clutching at straws. They (you) made a mistake - if we done the same we would be forced to accept it but a mistake by the police force is glossed over all to easily . No wonder the general public has little faith in them or the system.
Lukeyboy wrote: Why is it unlikely plasticfantastic? They (you) messed up, just accept it and move on.It's unlikely because he was at home. Do you not have any form of ID in your home?
plasticfantastic
says...
12:45pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Invicta58
says...
2:32pm Mon 24 Sep 12
plasticfantastic wrote:When you get back to work make sure it's the right address though lol.
Oh dear, you lot are very bitter aren't you. I'll be glad to be getting back to work tomorrow without reading this drivel during the day.
plasticfantastic
says...
3:21pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Invicta58 wrote:The police station is big enough, I think I'll find it OK, thanks *LOL*
plasticfantastic wrote:When you get back to work make sure it's the right address though lol.
Oh dear, you lot are very bitter aren't you. I'll be glad to be getting back to work tomorrow without reading this drivel during the day.
Now what is the code to the locker room????
Virtual-Monster
says...
3:57pm Mon 24 Sep 12
Bob Downondiss wrote:"back down the station for tea" AND DONUTS. How can you forget their donuts?
Why even answer the door. Just leave them poke around outside, they soon lose interest and p1ss off back down the station for tea.
BarryHarry
says...
9:14am Wed 26 Sep 12
biscuit dunker
says...
9:44am Wed 26 Sep 12
rofl
C.Rodders.Jefferson
says...
10:14pm Wed 26 Sep 12
ROFL. ROFL.
The .Gypo
says...
10:59am Thu 27 Sep 12
biscuit dunker wrote:Got the muvvers joke on ginger alwight
perhaps simon will look into into it barryharry boi? just like those missing man hole covers nicked by the east e totters! hahaha luv that mf jibe! :) rofl
LOL
Gypo.Joe
says...
3:12pm Thu 27 Sep 12
I'm Spartacus OK.
bible scoffer
says...
10:50am Fri 28 Sep 12
The .Gypo wrote:...rofl!! you wags have me holding my sides laffing out loud!! rofl!! :)
biscuit dunker wrote: perhaps simon will look into into it barryharry boi? just like those missing man hole covers nicked by the east e totters! hahaha luv that mf jibe! :) roflGot the muvvers joke on ginger alwight LOL
plasticfantastic says...
4:11pm Sun 23 Sep 12