Police enter unlocked homes

[Anaesthesia]

...and tweet photos.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-35400694

this is the heartwarming story of national security and protection, where if we leave our homes unlocked, the police can break in to expose our security flaws, then tweet about it.

[user104658]

Without a warrant, they are trespassing. Nothing will be done about it unless one of the people who live in those houses say something about it, though.

[Cherie]

...and tweet photos.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-35400694

this is the heartwarming story of national security and protection, where if we leave our homes unlocked, the police can break in to expose our security flaws, then tweet about it.

They didn't break in though they walked in which anyone could do, only the owner will be able to identify the pics, I think it is quite "heartwarming" that they are trying to prevent burglaries and delivering the message to owners to take a few seconds to check the door is locked. Unlocked properties would also be difficult to claim insurance in so a double whammy for owners, the only issue for me is that they let themselves open to a claim against themselves for theft

[Livia]

Without a warrant, they are trespassing. Nothing will be done about it unless one of the people who live in those houses say something about it, though.

There are a few reasons they could enter without a warrant, one of them is if they have reason to believe the place is being burgled.

[Ninastar]

Well, if there was anyone I wanted to break into my home, it would be the police tbh

[Livia]

Well, if there was anyone I wanted to break into my home, it would be the police tbh

Yes. I like a man with his own handcuffs.

[Ninastar]

Yes. I like a man with his own handcuffs.

Oh Livia don't tempt me!

[MTVN]

An Englishman's home is his castle. Might not be a very secure castle if its unlocked but its not appropriate for the police to stroll in and take pictures just to make a point.

[Livia]

I'd rather a copper came in and took pictures than a scumbag came in and took my telly. Not sure I agree with this as an anti-crime message, but I see where they're coming from.

[Cherie]

An Englishman's home is his castle. Might not be a very secure castle if its unlocked but its not appropriate for the police to stroll in and take pictures just to make a point.

Why not? I'd rather they did this than put a note through the letter box or even worse ignored it, it's not like they rifled through the homeowners knicker drawer

[arista]

Well, if there was anyone I wanted to break into my home, it would be the police tbh


Yes Stand On Me


Copper

[arista]

I'd rather a copper came in and took pictures than a scumbag came in and took my telly. Not sure I agree with this as an anti-crime message, but I see where they're coming from.


Yes thats the Point

[user104658]

There are a few reasons they could enter without a warrant, one of them is if they have reason to believe the place is being burgled.
Believing it's in the process of being burgled is one thing - going around testing doors to see if they're unlocked and then going in to prove a point, is surely another.

[Livia]

Believing it's in the process of being burgled is one thing - going around testing doors to see if they're unlocked and then going in to prove a point, is surely another.

Finding an unlocked house empty might raise suspicion it's been broken into.

The police get criticised a lot, I'm actually surprised they wanted to do this rather than leave the places alone and let them get turned over.

[user104658]

Why not? I'd rather they did this than put a note through the letter box or even worse ignored it, it's not like they rifled through the homeowners knicker drawer
Why though? A note through the letterbox explaining that they tried the door and found it open, but closed it and did not enter, along with a pamphlet about burglary / some stats / the importance of securing your property would surely be just as effective. And 100% more legal.

[user104658]

Finding an unlocked house empty might raise suspicion it's been broken into.

The police get criticised a lot, I'm actually surprised they wanted to do this rather than leave the places alone and let them get turned over.
I'm not saying that they had bad intentions or that they should be punished or anything, I'm just saying that the rules on entry into a private residence exist for a very good reason and selectively allowing those rules to be ignored is a slippery slope.

[Cherie]

Why though? A note through the letterbox explaining that they tried the door and found it open, but closed it and did not enter, along with a pamphlet about burglary / some stats / the importance of securing your property would surely be just as effective. And 100% more legal.

A note through the letter only reaches that family, using social media gives the message more impact.

[MTVN]

Why though? A note through the letterbox explaining that they tried the door and found it open, but closed it and did not enter, along with a pamphlet about burglary / some stats / the importance of securing your property would surely be just as effective. And 100% more legal.

Agreed. If I found a note like that through my letterbox then I'd appreciate their vigilance. If I found them strolling around in my living room I'd think they'd overstepped the mark.

Back in my first year at Uni I was on the ground floor and once left my window open while I popped to the shop. When I came back campus security had put a leaflet through the window saying to be aware that leaving it open left it open to intruders who could have easily entered. That was fair enough and I got the message, I wouldn't have needed for them to climb through the window and take a picture.

[bots]

I don't think they should be trying doors either. Will the next thing they do be to try to open the door with a bit of force, or open a window?

I bet if they "just happened" to find something dodgy at the same time, they would try and make that stick too. Its a slippery slope, and a step too far.

[DemolitionRed]

I don't think they should be trying doors either. Will the next thing they do be to try to open the door with a bit of force, or open a window?

I bet if they "just happened" to find something dodgy at the same time, they would try and make that stick too. Its a slippery slope, and a step too far.

I agree with this and surely the police risk being accused of stealing something.

I wonder how it would stand up in court if someone was burgled and managed to produce a dated picture on twitter of a police officer standing in their hallway saying, "another unlocked door"

[Livia]

I don't think the police should put themselves out at all for anyone. It doesn't matter what they do, they get sh1t for thanks. Personally, if you're stupid enough to leave your home unlocked then the police should only turn up if you ring them.

People are worried about the police stealing something? LOL... I give up.

[Northern Monkey]

Why though? A note through the letterbox explaining that they tried the door and found it open, but closed it and did not enter, along with a pamphlet about burglary / some stats / the importance of securing your property would surely be just as effective. And 100% more legal.

This^

Once the cheeky bastards have crossed your doorstep without permission or a warrant then they've crossed the line.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I rarely lock my house up, no need round here

:hee:

[Cherie]

A slippery slope to what :facepalm: this wasn't in the police manual of being a copper, it's two people who stepped outside the box ticking exercise that policing has become to raise awareness of people forgetting to lock their doors, they stepped into the hallway, what If they posted their pamphlet and someone was lying dead in the hallway, more outrage, another situation where the police can't do right for doing wrong.

[Vicky.]

An unlocked home IMO doesn't increase the risk of burglary. If people wanted to be in, they would be in, all an unlocked door does is save you having to shell out for a new window too :laugh:

[DemolitionRed]

I don't think the police should put themselves out at all for anyone. It doesn't matter what they do, they get sh1t for thanks. Personally, if you're stupid enough to leave your home unlocked then the police should only turn up if you ring them.

People are worried about the police stealing something? LOL... I give up.

Oh for goodness sake, twist my words yet again why don't you!

The police don't have to steal anything to be accused of theft and there are some people who would accuse their own mother of theft if they think they're going to benefit from it.

The police could be making themselves vulnerable to false accusations against them.

[arista]

I rarely lock my house up, no need round here

:hee:


What
about a Nasty Stranger Driver near your road LT?

[Crimson Dynamo]

What
about a Nasty Stranger Driver near your road LT?

i am well away from the main road and down a long unmade drive

i think it looks too scary for the average nasty person

and that I could have a gun or an axe or other weapons (its a yes to all)

:suspect:

[Cherie]

What
about a Nasty Stranger Driver near your road LT?

Or if Kirk tracks him down :worry:

[Johnnyuk123]

The police do a wondeful job of protecting us and this only makes me appreciate them even more. Well done to them i say! :clap1:

[arista]

i am well away from the main road and down a long unmade drive

i think it looks too scary for the average nasty person

and that I could have a gun or an axe or other weapons (its a yes to all)

:suspect:


How Nice

[Kizzy]

...and tweet photos.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-35400694

this is the heartwarming story of national security and protection, where if we leave our homes unlocked, the police can break in to expose our security flaws, then tweet about it.

If the house is unlocked they aren't breaking in it's trespass.

[JoshBB]

It's trespassing, whether they are police are not. They need to be reprimanded because this is technically illegal, but I don't think they should be arrested.

[Kizzy]

It's trespassing, whether they are police are not. They need to be reprimanded because this is technically illegal, but I don't think they should be arrested.

Trespass isn't criminal it's civil, they are still being dicks is there nothing better for the police to do then wave fingers at people?
Thought we were wanting to move away from a nanny state? Then why are the police adopting these humiliating tactics, and is it not a data protection issue for them to post images of your property online?

[Cherie]

Would it be trespass if a concerned neighbour called them your house because they heard screams and they let themselves on finding the door unlocked :think:

[Cherie]

It's getting to the point now where victims lying in their homes will have to sign a disclaimer (if they are alive) before the police set foot inside :laugh: when did we get so precious :umm2:

[Kizzy]

Would it be trespass if a concerned neighbour called them your house because they heard screams and they let themselves on finding the door unlocked :think:

Obviously not that would be a response to an emergency Cherie haha!

[Ross.]

I can see their point of doing it but I don't think it's appropriate to upload pictures to social media

[Vicky.]

Been thinking about this, how would it work if the house had a dog...and the dog bit the intruder. The dog doesn't know its the good guys, and the dog would not bite in any other situation than defending its home (to get rid of the 'dog shouldn't be vicious stuff that would usually reply to this...'). All the dog knows is that this person is not meant to be in the house when its parents aren't home...

[Anaesthesia]

Why though? A note through the letterbox explaining that they tried the door and found it open, but closed it and did not enter, along with a pamphlet about burglary / some stats / the importance of securing your property would surely be just as effective. And 100% more legal.

Hey, my thoughts entirely.

[Anaesthesia]

Been thinking about this, how would it work if the house had a dog...and the dog bit the intruder. The dog doesn't know its the good guys, and the dog would not bite in any other situation than defending its home (to get rid of the 'dog shouldn't be vicious stuff that would usually reply to this...'). All the dog knows is that this person is not meant to be in the house when its parents aren't home...

Good point.

[user104658]

A slippery slope to what :facepalm: this wasn't in the police manual of being a copper, it's two people who stepped outside the box ticking exercise that policing has become to raise awareness of people forgetting to lock their doors, they stepped into the hallway, what If they posted their pamphlet and someone was lying dead in the hallway, more outrage, another situation where the police can't do right for doing wrong.
A slippery slope to police officers being thought of by themselves OR by others as being "above the law", which they are not. Anyone who thinks this is a joke is terrifying to me. Small exceptions lead to bigger exceptions.

This IS in the "police manual of being a copper". They can't enter a private residence without a warrant, unless they believe that someone is in (actual, current) danger of being harmed or they believe that an intrusion is already in progress.

Warrants exist for a reason. The rules governing police conduct exist for a reason. They are laid out quite clearly, for a reason. Bending them to make some minor throwaway point in a massive mistake. Whatever their intentions - which I am sure were indeed good ones - it leads to unpredictability and mistrust.

[Marsh.]

Been thinking about this, how would it work if the house had a dog...and the dog bit the intruder. The dog doesn't know its the good guys, and the dog would not bite in any other situation than defending its home (to get rid of the 'dog shouldn't be vicious stuff that would usually reply to this...'). All the dog knows is that this person is not meant to be in the house when its parents aren't home...

This post is so apt on a Big Brother forum. :joker:

[Anaesthesia]

Just a thought.

If they found someone's door unlocked, and then entered, and then found evidence of something like a joint having been smoked, or some coke remnants, where would either party stand?

[Kizzy]

Just a thought.

If they found someone's door unlocked, and then entered, and then found evidence of something like a joint having been smoked, or some coke remnants, where would either party stand?

There's a conundrum, they'd have to leave it all and go apply for a warrant is my guess.

[Anaesthesia]

There's a conundrum, they'd have to leave it all and go apply for a warrant is my guess.

But doesn't a warrant have to be based on reasonable grounds of suspicion? And if those grounds were based upon a trespass, which would prevail in the face of a "crime"

One small step

[MB.]

Is this how Gillian McKeith got in then

[Kizzy]

But doesn't a warrant have to be based on reasonable grounds of suspicion? And if those grounds were based upon a trespass, which would prevail in the face of a "crime"

One small step

I don't even think they would risk the bad press investigating, unless a few months later they had an 'anonymous tip off'...

[user104658]

Just a thought.

If they found someone's door unlocked, and then entered, and then found evidence of something like a joint having been smoked, or some coke remnants, where would either party stand?
Couldn't use it in court and couldn't apply for a warrant using the real reason; which would inevitably lead to incidences of warrants being obtained under false pretences. They're also at risk of being accused of planting the evidence the first time they entered without a warrant if, for example, the occupant had cameras recording their entrance.

More reasons for sticking to the rules.

[smudgie]

What about all those nervous old biddies that hear someone trying their locked doors..enough to give them a heart attack.

[bots]

The more I think about it, the more bizarre the concept becomes. Think of the proportion of homes that are apartments, or that have their own driveways with gates etc. Are the police seriously suggesting its part of their remit to go round checking every door and window of every residence in a district?

I know several people that have actually been burgled, and when they call the police, they don't give a damn, they are considered very low priority.

I can't help but feel their motives are not entirely honest in this.

[joeysteele]

Couldn't use it in court and couldn't apply for a warrant using the real reason; which would inevitably lead to incidences of warrants being obtained under false pretences. They're also at risk of being accused of planting the evidence the first time they entered without a warrant if, for example, the occupant had cameras recording their entrance.

More reasons for sticking to the rules.

You are spot on, this would be a defence lawyers dream scenario.

[Marsh.]

Lock your bloody doors.

[billy123]

Finding an intruder in my house would likely end up with them getting a cricket bat to the head dressed as a copper or not they would be rapidly removed from the premises using the necessary amount of force to do so.

[Denver]

Chat **** get banged

That's what I'll say to them helping their self into my gaf

[DemolitionRed]

A lot of people are not happy about this
http://www.thejournal.ie/coventry-police-unlocked-homes-2567645-Jan2016/

Huffington Post says the tweets were removed after they were widely reported.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/26/coventry-police-criticised-over-burglary-patrol-tactic_n_9075722.html