On the [redacted for legal reasons]. Two officers came to my door. Entered without a warrant or permission. This was to arrest my daughter who does not live with me. Officer [redacted for legal reasons] then attempted to grab my daughter (there are stairs behind my front door). Because she was on the 6th or 7th step, the officer tried to barge past me and grabbed her by the arm. His grip was loose. I told my daughter to get her phone to record. She almost peed herself and made way to bathroom. I followed her and held the door ajar to show willing that she was not going to jump out of the window. It’s a 20ft drop and the window would have been too small. Once my daughter stood up from the toilet, I stood between her and the officer. There was almost an inch between her and the toilet. Because the officer was making skin to skin contact with me. I asked him to step back. He replied “why don’t you step back” whilst he was standing on my foot. I was refused my request for a sergeant to attend. He shouted throughout my 999 call. Uniform or no uniform, 2 men entered my home illegally and assaulted me.
I’m 54 and have epilepsy due to a stroke. I have ptsd, I was raped when I was 15 and [redacted for legal reasons]. I was traumatised and rehoused. Pirc stated their decision to take no action against the officer because my statement could not be collaborated. Despite the fact he entered my home without a warrant or permission. That is fact. I was not treated as a victim of abuse. No one looked or requested to look at my injuries. No skin cells scraped from under his fingernails. I feel and will always feel powerless and scared of the police. I now keep a fence post behind my door and installed cctv in my home. I don’t know where to turn. The officer broke half a dozen laws and no action has or will be taken against him.
I’m still shocked that this happened. Especially when violence against women by police officers are being made public. I could not defend myself because their uniforms protected them. Disbelief that this happened. The stories of other women were now happened to me. I’m scared of them. Where to go when they are the perpetrators. The illegal entry, recording of the 999 call that he shouted over and video evidence has not been regarded as evidence. I’m in a constant state of fear now that I know the police can behave this way without consequences. I fear for others he interacts with after experiencing his criminal behaviour that he has gotten away with.
Constabulary: Police Scotland
Timespan: [redacted for legal reasons] 2023
Did you report it to the police?: Yes
Do you want to revisit this with the police?: No
Could you tell us why not?: Because I already did and PIRC stated they decided to take no action because my statement could not be corroborated. Despite the initial crime of entering my premises without my persmission or a warrant speaks for itself.
Your ethnicity: White British
Have you experienced suicidality due to this?: Attempted suicide once
Are you disabled as defined under the Equality Act 2010?: Yes
illustration by Danny Noble
