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Four bungling police officers 'tried to break into car to retrieve mobile phone dropped during stop and search'
By Mail On Sunday Reporter
Last updated at 3:36 PM on 24th October 2010
Four police officers are being investigated for allegedly trying to break into a car to retrieve a mobile phone one of them dropped in the vehicle during a stop and search. When the female officer realised her phone was missing, she and a colleague allegedly went to the driver’s house. But when they could not get an answer at the door, they tried to prise open his car door with their metal batons.
Four police officers from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary are being investigated for allegedly trying to break into a car to retrieve a mobile phone
Two more officers from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary arrived to help, but their efforts failed and eventually they posted a note through the man’s front door asking him to return the phone.
A police source said: ‘They had no powers to break into this vehicle. If this was done by a member of the public, it would be classed as criminal damage. It could lead to dismissal.’
The owner discovered the damage the next morning when he tried to unlock his car for returning officers. He has made an official complaint. The incident in Plymouth is being investigated by the force’s professional standards department.
