My neighbour across the street on Umfreville Road had his door kicked in by the police last night, who had decided on no evdence that it was a crack-cocaine house. He is a geography teacher, who grew up in that house and lives there with two colleagues, also male. They also all happen to be black.
The police accidentally left documents behind detailing how they obtained the warrant - they said that they could not find out who lived in the house (although he is on the electoral register) and that the occupants were likely to be dangerous, and causing anti-social behaviour in the community.
In fact he has always been a calm and reassuring presence, looking out for my house when I'm away and a truly good neighbour - any observation of the house, or local enquiries would have made this clear. Or perhaps they could have knocked instead of kicking the door down?
No apology was made - he was told he was unlikely to get compensation and has taken the day off work today to fix the door.
I'm completely outraged by all this, and it's hard to imagine that it wasn't to some degree affected by racist assumptions - he vertainly feels that.
Far from making me feel safer, it increases my feeling that anything could happen around here, and there might be a policeman behind it.
Does anyone know where to start with making a complaint about this, or has there been any similar incident you know of?
Maddy
Tags for Forum Posts: crime, police