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CHINGFORD: Pensioners traumatised after police raid wrong house

1:02pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in


AN ELDERLY couple, one of whom has a heart condition, have spoken of their terror after police mistakenly raided their home at 6am.

Norman and Barbara Long were asleep in their home in Valley Side, Chingford, when the officers smashed their front door in.

Grandfather-of-four Mr Long, 77, said: “I heard a lot of noise, shouting and glass breaking, I thought we were being burgled.

“Then we heard people shouting 'police police police'.

“They asked me where my son is, before they realised they had the wrong house.”

Mrs Long, who has previously had heart surgery, suffered from a racing heart and sweating following the terrifying raid, and a doctor was called to attend her.

The couple were so traumatised by the raid that hours after the attack they were still being treated for shock.

It has now emerged the police officers should have raided the house of a suspected criminal in nearby Valley Side Parade.

Mr Long said: “They put the fear of Christ into me and my wife.

“How can they make a mistake like this? What would happen if they do this and somebody dies?”

The couple are considering making a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The raid at the Longs' home was part of a series of co-ordinated raids across Chingford yesterday (Wednesday) morning.

The operation, which involved more than 100 officers, is the largest of its kind in the last three-and-a-half years.

A total of 12 addresses were targeted and 14 people arrested as part of an operation to crackdown on drugs and gun crime.

The mistake at the Longs' home comes in a week when the Met has come under fire for its handling of the London G20 protests in April.

Comments(19)

leytonstoner says...
2:00pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Doh !!

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cog says...
2:19pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Whoops

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Morris Hickey says...
3:34pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Plod loses the plot - yet again. This is a disgrace, and a copper somewhere in the system deserves nothing less than a P45.

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inézc says...
4:42pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Police intelligence at its best again - an example to all of us!

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Touchwood says...
5:01pm Wed 8 Jul 09

The Longs need to stop considering a complaint and sue the Met for every last penny of the Commissioner's pension!!

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Fresh Gravee says...
5:20pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Cynthia Jarratt, died of a heart attack in similar circumstances a few years ago after Police raided her house.

Police never seem to learn from their mistakes.

It is bish, bash, wollop, ting, tang, twang, sorry Madam, err is this number 43, er 52, er 123, er what does it say on that warrant Sid, I thought you said the house with the azalea in the front garden, oh you mean the house opposite the house...........

Sir Robert Mark must be cringing in his rocking chair.

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db7martin says...
7:11pm Wed 8 Jul 09

what a complete mess they say the operation has been on going for 14 months and they still get one of the addresses wrong.the police are always making mistakes and have nearly caused an old couple to have an heart attack i do hope the longs take action and someone loses there job.i cant believe what you hear about the police in this area mosts of them are lemons

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Techno2 says...
7:52pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Isn't this the operation with our Borough Commander got out of his tuxedo to attend?

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walthamforester says...
9:26am Thu 9 Jul 09

I take back the congratulations I posted on the other story about the raid. This couple will be traumatised for life. They are probably already considering moving. Mark Benbow needs to make a public apology immediately.

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JackSpur says...
10:02am Thu 9 Jul 09

The police made a mistake. They are, after all, a collection of human beings who are fallible. Whilst i have every sympathy for the Longs i'm sure they are reasonable people and they and the police can agree to a course of action that will compensate them for the damages they have incured.

To all those who are criticising the police may you never be in a position where you personally need them in life threatening situation.

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Techno2 says...
10:35am Thu 9 Jul 09

JackSpur wrote:
The police made a mistake. They are, after all, a collection of human beings who are fallible. Whilst i have every sympathy for the Longs i'm sure they are reasonable people and they and the police can agree to a course of action that will compensate them for the damages they have incured. To all those who are criticising the police may you never be in a position where you personally need them in life threatening situation.
I do not blame the average police officer, but I find their leadership cringeworthy.I have every sympathy for offiercs who are led by people who decide to put themselevs in the papers in the maner of the Borough Commander - posing for photos while the police battered their way into one of the suspects' houses instead of ensuring everyone had the right information, was at the right place and was properly focussed on the job in hand.

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Waltham Forest Borough Commander says...
2:11pm Thu 9 Jul 09

I am truly sorry for the distress and upset caused to Mr and Mrs Long. Senior officers have since visited the couple to apologise and to explain what happened.

We visited a number of addresses over a two-day period as part of a large-scale policing operation involving officers from the Met’s specialist units, local boroughs and neighbouring constabularies.

The raids enabled us to secure some very positive results, including 21 people charged with 133 drugs and firearms offences, the recovery of more than £100,000 of drugs and four firearms. Our actions have significantly disrupted the activities of violent gangs operating in the north Chingford area and the effects will inevitably be felt across the whole borough.

Waltham Forest Borough has reduced crime by 14% over the last 3 years, this includes a 44% reduction in personal robbery - equating to 1000 less victims of personal robbery each year. We will always work hard to make positive improvements to the lives of those who live and work in Waltham Forest.

Regards

Mark Benbow
Chief Superintendent
Borough Commander
Waltham Forest Police

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walthamforester says...
2:17pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Credit where credit is due - at least Benbow is capable of apologsing for his mistakes.

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Sugarplum says...
2:18pm Thu 9 Jul 09

At least the borough Commander has what it takes to publicly apologise for what was obviously a regrettable error.

Trouble is, the actual suspect has now been tipped off.

Well done to all on the operation though, at least some scum will be off the streets now!

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Waltham Forest Borough Commander says...
2:41pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Just to clarify the position, we did (eventually) search the correct address and that person has been arrested and charged with supplying drugs.

Regards

Mark Benbow

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Techno2 says...
5:38pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Waltham Forest Borough Commander wrote:
Just to clarify the position, we did (eventually) search the correct address and that person has been arrested and charged with supplying drugs. Regards Mark Benbow
Good to hear it and thanks for clarifying the situation and apologizing. But hand on heart, were you and your colleagues not even tad a distracted during your operations by the desire to make sure there were some press photos available of you knocking doors in?

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JackSpur says...
7:35pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Wow, did not expect the Borough Commander to reply here. Have to respect you for communicating with the local public in this way. Thanks

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LarryTLemur says...
9:06pm Thu 9 Jul 09

JackSpur wrote:
Wow, did not expect the Borough Commander to reply here. Have to respect you for communicating with the local public in this way. Thanks
It's probably just another of Claridger/Huw/Gravee
's multiple personalities :-)

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Techno2 says...
10:41pm Thu 9 Jul 09

LarryTLemur wrote:
JackSpur wrote: Wow, did not expect the Borough Commander to reply here. Have to respect you for communicating with the local public in this way. Thanks
It's probably just another of Claridger/Huw/Gravee 's multiple personalities :-)
No, Its the Borough Commander alright. He loves being in the paper.

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