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Force apologises to family after bungled raid

Press Association
Friday 26 March 2010 15:50 GMT

A police force said sorry to a family today after smashing their door down by mistake and then leaving a bottle of beer as an apology.

Officers knocked down the door of the home of Kayleigh Hill and Anthony McVey in Dibden Purlieu, near Southampton, Hampshire, believing it was the base of a suspected drug dealer.

But after detaining Mr McVey, 23, a former soldier with the Royal Engineers, the officers realised the suspect had since moved out of the property and the innocent family with two young children was now living there.

And to apologise, the officers returned later in the day to say sorry by handing over a bottle of beer, worth about £1.79, and a bunch of flowers.

Hampshire Police have since apologised to the couple and are organising for the door to be repaired at the force's expense.

It is understood that the officers had been told by their superiors to make a gesture to the family but they were then spoken to about their inappropriate choice of a bottle of beer as a gift.

A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: "The matter is under investigation and we are working very closely with the family to resolve the issues, some of which have already been addressed.

"We have apologised to them for this inconvenience.

"We do robustly target those believed to be involved in the supply and use of illegal substances.

"On this occasion, a former occupant was in fact the target and we would like to point out that this family are in no way connected to this investigation."

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