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Victims of crime

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. For free advice contact Victim Support.https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

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Original poster

Can police just force their way in to my home?

98 replies

Milwaukee02 · 19/08/2020 01:35

Just that really. I was asleep. I awoke to knocking, I opened the door and they forced their way in and searched my house for someone. The person was not in my home. I cannot believe the police can just enter peoples homes without explanation. Any advice would be gratefully received.

OP posts:

Dandeliondrops · 19/08/2020 02:57

Sounds like your son has something serious going on for this to happen

Nikori · 19/08/2020 02:59

It sounds like the police are the least of your problems right now.

Many years ago, my brother was involved in some very dodgy stuff and the police came to raid my poor parents home. They are a very quiet living, normal, law-abiding couple. He wasn't there, so the police had a look around and left.

My brother was the one at fault and the police were just doing their job. I really doubt the police have any interest in you in your pyjamas.

Brokensunrise · 19/08/2020 03:00

Yes they are allowed in specific circumstances, but you’re asking if yours would be considered these circumstances without telling us what they are.... I don’t really care but that’s probably why people are a bit snippy!

But yes it can be a bit traumatic. Contact the police tomorrow to discuss? If they have time..

Nikori · 19/08/2020 03:01

Also, I'm pretty sure that in any country the police can enter without permission in exceptional circumstances, otherwise criminals would just say sorry you can't come in.

lakesidesummer · 19/08/2020 03:03

I'm not trying to be unpleasant OP, I've accompanied the police on dawn raids and can see how shocking it would be to be on the receiving end of one.
But they are reasonably unusual and sign things have gone badly wrong with at least one member of your family.
Truly that is what needs focusing on in your family regardless of the shock of a police raid.

Thatbliddywoman · 19/08/2020 03:04

@Hangingover how awful :(

Catsup · 19/08/2020 03:06

Have you actually been able to get in touch with your son OP? Because this is actually his predicament not yours, and getting upset on a forum won't actually help either of you. If he's wanted by the police then he needs to hand himself in. If it's a case of mistaken identity then a solicitor will deal with that. But arguing the toss about if police shouldn't/should enter your home isn't for a layman to quibble about. The law and the in/outs of it is for the police and solicitors to argue, not randomers on a chat site. Fingers crossed it all gets sorted though.

shouldhavecalleditoatabix · 19/08/2020 03:15

OP. To answer your question. Yes they have the power to enter your premises under section 17 Of PACE. As long as they have a belief your son was in the premises (you told them he was) and suspect him of committing an indictable or either way words an offence that has a maximum prison sentence over 6 months )offence. There are other reasons too but the above sounds like the most likely legislation.

It is understandable that you feel violated. But the question is who is responsible for that. It's easy to blame the police but perhaps the blame, in fact, lies with your son? And if not your son, then it lies with whomever has implicated him. The police do what has to be done. It's rarely something pleasant. But it's a job most don't like to think of.

Aridane · 19/08/2020 04:04

It sounds like the police are the least of your problems right no

Except OP was askng about the legality of the search and now how to parent...

Best wishes, OP, in a horrible situation

TitsOutForHarambe · 19/08/2020 04:06

Yes, they can under certain circumstances, as a PP has explained better than me.

If you aren't happy with the way you have been treated then I don't think there is any harm in speaking to them and letting them know. A lot of police officers are good people who follow the rules, but not all of them.

TitsOutForHarambe · 19/08/2020 04:10

You need to be having hard conversations with your son.

What a pointless and unhelpful comment. You have no idea what the OP needs to do with her son because you don't have enough information.

Kaykay066 · 19/08/2020 04:14

Perhaps have a go at your son for bringing the police to your door not people on here?
My son knows what would happen if he got into bother and did the same he’s not that daft so speak to your son and sort it out as you’re obviously upset by it.
You’re bothered about the wrong thing, I’d be worried about why the police came in the middle of the night to look for my son, I don’t dress so visitors in the night either

ItsLateHumpty · 19/08/2020 04:22

Oh OP I remember you from your other thread. Sounds like there’s a lot going on right now, and I hope you don’t regret letting him come back to live with you

isabellerossignol · 19/08/2020 04:29

I'm sure it's very upsetting but unfortunately they can enter your home in certain circumstances, and from what you've described it sounds likely that those criteria were met in that they had reason to believe that he was there. I'd be upset too but I suppose it's a case of channelling anger in the wrong direction. It's an understandable reaction though.

Nikori · 19/08/2020 04:31

@Aridane

It sounds like the police are the least of your problems right no

Except OP was askng about the legality of the search and now how to parent...

Best wishes, OP, in a horrible situation

Right, so maybe a good starting point would be to tell us which country she’s in because laws vary country to country even within the UK.

But, why would on earth would the police risk an illegal search?

lyralalala · 19/08/2020 04:47

From the police's POV they weren't forcing their way into your home - they were forcing their way into the home of someone they're looking for and who they'd been told, by you, was home.

Of course they were going to search the whole house when they believed he was there.

Your issue should be with your son, not the police carrying out their job.

popcornlover · 19/08/2020 05:07

What are you so angry with the police for doing their job, and not with your son who they were looking for?

It’s like you’re saying the police shouldn’t bother protecting the public against criminals.

They come at night time to catch people off guard, and usually for very serious crimes!

BonnieMcflurry · 19/08/2020 05:18

If your son sounds like your rude attitude
I'm very glad they searched your home
Clearly up to no good.
Police don't pick random houses for fun

alexdgr8 · 19/08/2020 05:20

trying to find fault withe police is the wrong attitude.
you should be supporting them.
they din't break in, you wisely opened the door.
if you have criminal/ suspect living in your house, that is who you should be blaming.
why are the police after your son, we don't need to know, but just pointing out that you are in denial if you can't see that's the real enormous problem. not the actions of the police.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 19/08/2020 05:30

What on Earth do you think they should do? Make an appointment?

FredaFrogspawn · 19/08/2020 05:35

It would have been better if op hadn’t been pushed though wouldn’t it?

Dohorseseatapples · 19/08/2020 05:38

Your son lives at your address, you told them he was in (he wasn’t), they needed to get him quickly and urgently so moved in.

They obviously didn’t want him for a friendly chat did they? Whatever is is it’s serious enough for them to storm the property.. they don’t do this stuff for fun.

As for the ‘violation‘ of your home... that is the least of your worries. Put it this way, your son brought them there.

Howallergic · 19/08/2020 05:39

I think they have to have reasonable grounds among other things. Not a legal person though - just a layperson and that's from watching Criminal Minds lol which is US.

It must have been traumatic and I'm sorry it has happened.
Have they told you to contact them if you hear/see your son again?

lyralalala · 19/08/2020 05:40

@FredaFrogspawn

It would have been better if op hadn’t been pushed though wouldn’t it?

It can't have been that bad a push given it took a few rpeplies before it was mentioned

The OP is also pretty disingenuous to say "The person was not in my home" and fail to mention until later that the reason they thought they were there was because the OP told them her DS was.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/08/2020 05:45

It sounds like you’ve got a lot going on. Hope it gets solved. I think you sound upset and angry, which really is understandable. Unfortunately what tends to happen is some posters don’t help this process and throw anger back at you. If ever you do want to share what’s going on in your life, some of us will listen and you can just change names again.

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