Ulster Unionist Policing Board representative Ross Hussey MLA has praised the Police for their recent successes in operations against drug dealers and welcomed an assurance from the Police that where mistakes are made with the wrong address targeted and Police entering by force in error, they will immediately ensure the property is restored.
The West Tyrone MLA said:
“The Police have enjoyed a great deal of success recently in tackling the threat posed by drug dealers and disrupting their operations. In August, the PSNI launched Operation Torus, targeting street level drug dealing across Northern Ireland and in less than a month there were more than 1,100 searches, 198 arrests, and £287,000 worth of drug seizures.
One case came to light where the Police targeted the wrong address and forced entry to the home of an elderly couple in their 70s, causing some damage and great distress.
I welcome the assurances I have received from ACC Jones that in such circumstances the Police will pay for any resulting damages and immediately ensure property is restored.
It is essential that genuine mistakes made by the Police do not deflect from the tremendous amount of good work being done by the Police to rid our communities of drugs and drug dealers.“