Police refuse compensation for victim of botched raid
Thames Valley Police have refused to pay compensation to Mrs Jeanette Langlais after her Blackbird Leys home was mistakenly raided following a ‘tip off’ back in July.
The police had been forced to issue an apology and pay for her front door to be fixed after it became apparent that Mrs Langlais was entirely innocent of any crime, drug related or otherwise. But this is not sufficient for the TVP Claims Investigator to award damages. The Investigator is arguing that a lawful entry was made to Mrs Langlais home because officers were in possession of a warrant.
While there presumably was a warrant, it should never have been issued. There was no reason to suspect Mrs Langlais of any wrongdoing other than the word of a police informer—in all probability an inhabitant of the drug underworld. Whether this informer gave the wrong address, or the correct one was given but taken down wrongly by the tout’s police handler, is open to speculation.
What is particularly disturbing is that officers in charge of the raid made no attempt to carry out surveillance on the property before going ahead with the operation. For this reason it seems only proper that the police should be under an obligation to provide compensation.
Mrs Langlais, a security officer, had just gone to bed after finishing a night shift when police officers in civilian clothing burst into her bedroom. Her female lodger was forced to endure a humiliating strip search. They have both been traumatised by what was an understandably terrifying ordeal.
Mrs Langlais is currently seeking legal advice for her case. She is a brave woman who deserves our full support.
Leys Independent, issue 16, December 2002
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