Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jun 2009
Source: Ballymena Times (UK)
Copyright: 2009 Johnston Press Digital Publishing
Contact: http://www.ballymenatimes.com/contactus.aspx
Website: http://www.ballymenatimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4999

FAMILY'S TRAUMA AT 'MISTAKEN IDENTITY' DRUGS OPERATION

A BALLYMENA family have told of their distress as drug  squad officers
searched their home in what turned out  to be a case of mistaken identity.

One of the children living in the house was due to sit  an A-level
examination the next morning.

The case was raised at the recent meeting of Ballymena  District
Policing Partnership by independent member  Audrey Wales, who asked
how such a thing could happen.

Questioning the amount of intelligence gathered  beforehand, she said:
"It turned out the police had got  the wrong house, yet this family
had been living in the  property for a year."

Mrs Wales said the family had been in contact with her  and that the
whole experience had been a very traumatic  one for them, particularly
for their daughter who had  been taking A-level exams at the time.

Inspector Pete Bouma said: "Policing is not an exact  science. On
occasions, we get it wrong.

"An officer has been out to visit the family and has 
apologised."

He added: "We have offered the young resident involved  a trip down to
the police station and the opportunity  to meet with police officers
to alleviate any fear that  may have been caused by what happened."
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr