Armed police carrying machine guns terrify mother and her six-year-old son when they smash their way into the WRONG house.
Just how can this happen - ever? - And yet it seems to occur several times every year.
When police would come to me asking for a warrant for raids just like this one, which I could authorise as a JP, I used to interrogate them thoroughly. If they were going after 'bad guys' - nobody wanted them to succeed more than I did.
Firstly, I demanded assurances as to whether there were any vulnerable people or children in the house.
Secondly, I asked for some evidence that this house was a legitimate target.
Thirdly, I rather wanted confirmation.
Finally, I interrogated the poor so-and-so sent for the warrant until I was personally convinced that the raid was legitimate, whereupon, I put my timed and dated signature at the bottom. Checks and balances.
You can never be 100% certain, of course. Life just isn't like that but disasters such as the one above should really be as rare as hens' teeth.
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