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Armed Police Blunder in Clare
POLICE have apologised to a fire-fighter who was confronted outside his home by armed police who had been sent to the wrong address as his four year old son watched in horror.
Paul Brown went to the door of his home in Stour Vale, Clare, to see why a helicopter was hovering overhead when armed police arrived and ordered him to put his hands on his head. The officers then realised they had the wrong address and left, but without any apology to Mr Brown.
Police explained that they had received a report of someone firing a gun at Stour Vale, Clare, when it should have been Stour Vale, Wixoe. In fact, it turned out that the noise had been a firework being let off.
Mr Brown, 36, a retained fire-fighter, was upset that he received no apology from the officers at the time and that his four year old son Harrison saw everything through the living room window.
It was quite scary for me it is not every day that something like that happens to you. The worse thing about it was that my son was watching. He was terrified by it and still is.
I am very angry and I cannot believe it happened to me. You just think about what could have happened. Mr Brown said.
A statement from Suffolk Police said a call came in from a workman who stated he had heard shots being fired from a neighbouring garden. The address was logged as Stour Vale, Clare.
Police went to the area accompanied by armed officers, which is standard procedure in such circumstances for the safety of the officers and the general public.
A number of homeowners at the area were spoken to so that more information could be gained. At this point it became clear that residents were not aware of any incident. The original informant was contacted again to confirm details, at which point the address was corrected to that of Stour Vale, Wixoe.
Officers went to the location where it was confirmed that someone had let off a firework.
We apologise to anyone who may have felt alarmed or distressed as a result of this incident, the statement said.
Date : 12-07-2006
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