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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:

Dontbeme · 19/08/2020 09:18

I remember your previous post OP and I hope you are OK, do you have someone to speak to or for support, any family or friends?

Aragog · 19/08/2020 10:06

My only question was whether police could force their way in to my house.

Well the answer to that is yes. In some situations they can force entry into your home. They can even break your door down to do so. They will have needed a warrant in order to break it down.

To be honest it sounds like they had a good reason for believing your son was in the premises. Infact you told them he was.

You can obviously follow this up further and check out their reasons for forcing entry.

Though it may be that the bigger concern right now should be where is your son and what has happened for the police to be so eager to speak to him.

giletrouge · 19/08/2020 10:24

You ok @Milwaukee02? This sounds really terrifying and horrible and I imagine you're not sure what to do for the best right now.
and handhold.

Bluntness100 · 19/08/2020 10:58

You can obviously follow this up further and check out their reasons for forcing entry

I would hope the op knows exactly why they wanted her son, if she doesn’t unless he’s a minor the police may not tell her.

KurriKawari · 19/08/2020 11:08

They should have sent a letter first. Then followed it up with a phone call to book in an appointment. Yes that's what they should do everytime before they go looking for someone.

PeachGinMummy · 19/08/2020 13:57

@Milwaukee02 what was your son purported to have done? Do you even know? Did they tell you?

If they were looking for him in connection with GBH, rape or murder would you still be saying you feel violated? At what point should police have to ask nicely to be allowed into your house if they're looking for somebody who has committed a crime?

Jussayingisall · 19/08/2020 14:00

And we breathe the same oxygen as these people. I despair at times.

cariadlet · 19/08/2020 15:26

Some really harsh comments on here. Of course the police had the right to enter but it was clearly a shock and the op was writing while still in a state of distress. She's having a tough time with her son and a bit of empathy wouldn't hurt.

PeachGinMummy · 19/08/2020 17:11

@cariadlet normally I'd agree but some of OP's responses have been so snappy and unnecessarily rude that I'm sure a lot of people have either disengaged or lost patience with the situation. I was disappointed to see her response to lakeside this morning. Each to their own however, she's perfectly entitled to converse that way but then so is everybody else.

Dohorseseatapples · 20/08/2020 07:19

The OP wanted people to agree that the nasty police had no right barging into her home to look for her son.
They have every right.
Her anger is misplaced and posters have told her just that.

Hileni · 20/08/2020 07:56

I think it depends on what he did, OP.

Shxx · 09/10/2020 02:19

Don't answer the door to police in future.
If you don't answer the door they cannot barge in without a warrant

Moonshinemisses · 09/10/2020 03:52

Even though the police do have a right to enter I can imagine being woken in the wee small hours & facing the police at the front door & entering is terrifying. My nan had the police barge into her house a few years back looking for my cousin she's a tough old bird but it really shook her. I hope you manage to get some sleep & feel a little calmer in the morning.

BullshitVivienne · 09/10/2020 04:32

This thread is from August.

Pixxie7 · 09/10/2020 05:02

It sounds like you have had an awful time but if they ask you if he was there and you said yes I guess in a way they didn’t really force their way in.

HeronLanyon · 09/10/2020 05:47

Lots of good advice above op. Hope things have settled.
Criminal barrister here - deal with this routinely in cases and dealing with whether searches are lawful etc. Even then I was once in your position with pice at door then running through my ground floor to the garden looking for someone. Even when I Understood and accepted it all (And fully happy to help) I was really shaken By the unexpected intrusion. Not helped by fact I was half asleep and in tatty ‘sleepwear’.

PollyPepper · 27/04/2021 22:01

@Shxx

Don't answer the door to police in future. If you don't answer the door they cannot barge in without a warrant

Ridiculous and incorrect thing to say. Of course they can. Let's say your elderly nan has not been heard of for three weeks. No one has a key. Neighbours have reported hearing her shouting for help. What are the police going to do, write out a warrant application, go to court, wait for it to be approved, swear it out, then go back to the address??

I know this thread is old but this really needed picking up on.

Educate yourself before throwing around ridiculous untruths.

tinytemper66 · 28/04/2021 14:03

Zombie thread Polly Pepper

Doghead · 28/04/2021 14:40

It always baffles me how people constantly try and blame others for their own predicaments. OP, you clearly know your son is up to no good. Stop trying to make out the Police were doing wrong in carrying out a lawful search for him. No doubt you also make excuses for his behaviour.

Wolfiefan · 28/04/2021 14:41

ZOMBIE THREAD!!!!!

Desmondo2021 · 28/04/2021 14:45

So what if it's a zombie thread? Topics don't become undebatable just because they weren't posted yesterday!!!

Eviethyme · 28/04/2021 15:04

Give her a break guys, must be hard knowing you brought up a potential criminal.

PollyPepper · 29/04/2021 20:36

As I said in my post, I'm aware the thread is a bit old, although it's not exactly 'zombie' thread, it was started in August and there was no warning from Mumsnet when you go to post.

I just couldn't let @shxx ridiculous and made up comment go.

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