Police admit conduct was ‘unacceptable’ during and after illegal raid on student flat

The professional standards department of Avon & Somerset police says that the whole force “would benefit from some learning” following an illegal raid in the Old City last summer.

The raid by more than 100 police officers from across the UK on properties being squatted took place after squatters had left, with a student flat being illegally raided and police later admitting they could not identify officers who took part in the operation despite them wearing body cameras.

Avon & Somerset’s apology comes as a Freedom of Information request reveals that the Bristol police commander emailed Marvin Rees ahead of the raid and said he “would welcome any suggestions of key issues you would want to be considered”.

Released emails show that superintendent Mark Runacres contacted the mayor on June 1 informing him of the operation in advance of a court appearance and subsequent raid on 40, 45 and 46 High Street near St Nick’s Market on the morning of June 4.

Runacres also asked Rees if he could speak at the “City Leaders” meeting on June 2 “to brief the group on (the) policing operation we will be delivering” alongside chief superintendent Richard Corrigan, who was gold commander on the day of the raids.

It was the City Leaders group who after the ‘kill the bill’ riot wrote an open letter saying they have “complete confidence in the approach taken by Avon & Somerset Police”.

In a report sent to Billy Stockwell, one of the residents of the student flat above Art Eternal on High Street which was unlawfully raided, Avon & Somerset police say “that the service provided by the police was not acceptable” in regards to six out of his seven complaints.

These were:

• that officers wrongfully forced entry
• that officers failed to provide a warrant for the forced entry
• that officers caused damage to the property
• that officers failed to stop the raid when they realised that they had the wrong address
• that officers failed to apologise prior to the complaint being made
• that Avon & Somerset gave a statement to the press before contact was made with the flat’s residents

The constabulary’s professional standards department (PSD) say that the service provided by the police was “acceptable” in regard to Stockwell’s allegation that officers failed to show concern for the welfare of himself and his flatmates.

Bailiffs watch on from the roof as police arrive soon after 6.30am on June 4 2021 – photo: Martin Booth

“Given that police made an error in entering Mr Stockwell’s property, and given that this would have been relatively obvious to officers and senior officers at the location, I believe that the least Mr Stockwell, and his flatmates, could have expected was an apology on the day in question,” says the apology from the police that has been seen by Bristol24/7.

“I feel the organisation as a whole would benefit from some learning, namely that when police make an error, we reach out to those affected as soon as possible, offer an apology and explore what we as an organisation can do to, as best as possible, rectify the mistake and restore faith in us as a service.”

Stockwell said that he and his flatmates thank the police for acknowledging their mistakes “and we are relieved to start drawing this process to a conclusion”.

The University of Bristol undergraduate added, however, that “getting the plain and simple truth should not be this arduous”.

He said: “It has taken the involvement of local councillors, coverage by multiple media outlets, two official reports and more hours than I can remember to reach this outcome.

“How often will these types of incidents occur but never received public attention?

“Avon & Somerset Police initially couldn’t identify which officers were involved in the illegal raid, nor could they locate any body camera footage.

“Their first official report into the matter also contained multiple inaccuracies which later had to be retracted or amended.

“We appreciate that mistakes can happen, but their frequency during this process has been concerning.

“The lack of response from mayor Marvin Rees has also been noted on social media. We hope that he is aware of the incident and its subsequent investigation, and we’d be happy to talk with him about our experience if he is interested in improving the police service in our city.”

Main photo & video: Martin Booth

Read more:

• ‘Riot police stormed my student flat during raids on Old City thinking it was the squat next door’
• EXCLUSIVE: Police do not know which officers unlawfully stormed student flat

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