Army veteran's home wrongly broken into by police

A GULF War veteran has told of his '˜disgust' after police mistakenly broke into his home in Worthing.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Feb 2016, 12:00 BST
Updated 29th Feb 2016, 12:04 BST
Clive Cobb had his door broken in by police when they falsely raided his flat. SUS-160226-123640001Clive Cobb had his door broken in by police when they falsely raided his flat. SUS-160226-123640001
Clive Cobb had his door broken in by police when they falsely raided his flat. SUS-160226-123640001

Clive Cobb, 51, returned home from work to find the front door to his flat splintered and a note from police pinned to it – but bearing the number of a nearby property rather than Mr Cobb’s, despite the property being clearly numbered.

Mr Cobb, who lives in Selden Road, Worthing, said he contacted Sussex Police and the mistake was admitted, but that his complaint to the force was still unresolved.

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He said: “I no longer have any faith in Sussex Police and I am disgusted with what they have done. They are supposed to be professional and then they go in gung-ho.

Police fitted a secure lock, but there is considerable damage to the door. SUS-160226-123651001Police fitted a secure lock, but there is considerable damage to the door. SUS-160226-123651001
Police fitted a secure lock, but there is considerable damage to the door. SUS-160226-123651001

“When I found the complaints department, they told me they only dealt with cases against police officers and referred me to the civil department in Lewes. I feel like I’m just going from pillar to post.”

A secure lock had been fitted to the door but the damaged frame was still in need of repairs following the incident, which happened on February 17.

The frame was snapped down the middle and splintered near the lock, making it difficult to shut the door.

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Mr Cobb, who spent five years in the Army, said: “I know how to look after myself, but it could very easily be someone more vulnerable, and its not safe to live with a broken door.

Clive has considerable damage to his door. SUS-160226-123629001Clive has considerable damage to his door. SUS-160226-123629001
Clive has considerable damage to his door. SUS-160226-123629001

“I just want an apology and for Sussex Police to accept they were wrong. It would be nice if they could get my door fixed as well.”

Inspector Allan Lowe, from the Adur and Worthing neighbourhood policing team, said: “Sussex Police investigates any complaint made against it through standard police complaints procedures. It is not appropriate to discuss individual complaints but if we get things wrong we will always try to apologise and put matters right.”

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Police fitted a secure lock, but there is considerable damage to the door. SUS-160226-123651001Police fitted a secure lock, but there is considerable damage to the door. SUS-160226-123651001
Police fitted a secure lock, but there is considerable damage to the door. SUS-160226-123651001

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