Cable Forum - View Single Post - Police trespassing

**Chris** · 30-03-2010, 11:20

Even if it is a case of trespass, as stated in the OP it is not a criminal offence, it's a civil wrong. A householder could take the boys in blue to the county court and seek redress in the form of damages.

Given that such damages would have to be a reflection of the actual loss to the homeowner caused by the trespass, and not some arbitrary punitive amount, exactly how much do we think they constabulary could reasonably be sued for? The price of a jaycloth to wipe the bootprints off the kitchen lino? The price of a phone call to the newsdesk of the local rag?

This, as usual, is a storm in a media teacup full of solicitors who would never have even heard of the story, let alone commented on it, had they not been phoned up and asked for their opinion by the Grauniad.

30-03-2010, 11:20	#5
Chris Trollsplatter Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North of Watford Services: Humane elimination of all common Internet pests Posts: 38,371	Re: Police trespassing - is it ok? Even if it is a case of trespass, as stated in the OP it is not a criminal offence, it's a civil wrong. A householder could take the boys in blue to the county court and seek redress in the form of damages. Given that such damages would have to be a reflection of the actual loss to the homeowner caused by the trespass, and not some arbitrary punitive amount, exactly how much do we think they constabulary could reasonably be sued for? The price of a jaycloth to wipe the bootprints off the kitchen lino? The price of a phone call to the newsdesk of the local rag? This, as usual, is a storm in a media teacup full of solicitors who would never have even heard of the story, let alone commented on it, had they not been phoned up and asked for their opinion by the Grauniad.