Published Date: Jul 2018

Police officers who entered a property in Ballycastle without a search warrant after calling to conduct a bail check in March this year were acting in accordance with entry regulations, the Police Ombudsman has found.

The Police Ombudsman received a complaint from a householder who said two officers - one male and one female - called to his home after midnight to check on the bail subject whose terms included a curfew of between 11pm and 6am. The man alleged that the officers had unlawfully forced their way into the house causing damage to the front door; that the male officer had wielded a firearm and that both had failed to identify themselves when asked for their details. He also alleged that their being at the property was unlawful as he had no knowledge of the bail subject.

Police Ombudsman Investigators established that there could be ‘no doubt’ the householder was aware of the identity of the bail subject despite the officers using that individual’s  middle name when explaining the reason for their presence, given that a man with the same surname was bailed to his address.

The police officers told investigators that on approaching the property they discovered the front door open and on looking inside, found the house to be in an extremely untidy state. Concerned that a crime had been, or was in the process of being committed, the officers said they had then entered the property, announcing they were police.

The male officer said that on receiving no reply he went upstairs and knocked on the first bedroom door from which the householder appeared. The officer said he then explained to the man why he was there in the first instance and why he had then entered the house, but the man rejected his account.

The householder pointed out minor damage to the front door which the officer said could not have been caused by him or his colleague as they had not forced entry, adding he believed the damage to have been caused previously.

The officers denied refusing to reveal their identities as both were in full uniform with their identification numbers in full view. The two also denied that a firearm had been drawn at any time and said the only equipment being carried had been torches.

Police Ombudsman investigators examined both police officer’s notebooks and established their  records of the incident were detailed and supported the other’s version of events.  No evidence was found to corroborate the householder’s claims.
 
Ombudsman investigators rejected the householder’s complaint and concluded that the officers were acting in accordance with regulations in being at the premises.