Police officers slammed after CCTV of them watching TV in girl’s residence
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A girl has slammed cops for watching Netflix and lifting dumbbells in her residence for nearly 4 hours after they have been informed to ‘chill’ whereas she was lacking within the woods.
Abbygail Lawton, 21, from Wigan, was within the midst of a psychological well being disaster when ambulance companies raised the alarm about her welfare, calling within the police for backup.
Greater Manchester Police officers searched her residence to substantiate the younger girl was not there earlier than making themselves cozy, sitting on her couch with their ft up whereas scrolling by way of Ms Lawton’s TV looking for a collection of Come Dine with Me to look at.
Police mentioned the officers remained at her residence as a result of it was unlocked after they arrived – and so they remained there in case she returned.
Ms Lawton, a mother-of-one, had been lacking for 11 hours earlier than she was discovered by two different officers. She was then ‘arrested for losing police time’ and spent 12 hours in police custody.
It was solely when she lastly returned residence that she re-watched the CCTV footage which she claims exhibits the 2 male officers ‘mocking’ her.
Abbygail Lawton’s residence CCTV captured two Greater Manchester Police officers taking part in on their telephones as they waited in case she returned residence
During the four-hour wait, CCTV captured two officers utilizing her dumbbells and sitting on the sifa
Ms Lawton had been reported as a lacking individual and police have been despatched to her residence to attend for her in case she returned
Sitting in her lounge, the pair had made feedback about how she had just lately watched The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, began figuring out and even regarded immediately into the digital camera to say ‘Hello Abbygail, I do know you are watching us’.
While the footage is now underneath investigation by the police’s Professional Standards Department, Ms Lawton revealed to MailOnline the conversations the officers allegedly had in her residence.
Two male officers and a feminine officer arrived at her residence simply earlier than 10pm on January 3. After finishing up the search the feminine officer allegedly informed her colleagues ‘you would possibly as effectively chill right here in case she comes again’ earlier than explaining that she would depart the door on the latch.
Ms Lawton mentioned: ‘When she left the deal with the 2 male officers got here in and turned on Netflix on my TV, making feedback about what I had watched.
‘They made feedback that I’d watched the Boy in Striped Pyjamas – which I had beforehand – and one other collection I’d watched.
‘Then they are saying ‘we might so with watching one thing like Come Dine With Me’ earlier than the opposite officer sees Dog’s Behaving Badly and begins saying how ‘it is fairly good’.
‘They then select one thing on Netflix and begin watching TV. One of the officers then will get my dumbbell and begins doing weights, which you’ll see within the footage, earlier than sitting again down.’
CCTV captured the officers sitting on her couch with their ft up whereas scrolling by way of the TV looking for a collection of Come Dine with Me to look at
When discovered, Ms Lawton was then ‘arrested for losing police time’ and spent 12 hours in police custody.
Ms Lawton had been alerted on her cellphone that there had been motion in her residence and was livid that that they had invaded her privateness whereas sitting round doing nothing.
The officers then hear on their radios that the sergeant is on the cellphone to Ms Lawton to attempt to find her.
‘The two officers came upon I used to be talking to the sergeant on the cellphone and made a remark that mentioned ‘she’s comfortable to talk to the sergeant on the cellphone however not comfortable to be discovered’,’ she defined.
‘I used to be within the woods actually struggling, I had overdosed earlier than I left and was in a very dangerous psychological well being disaster.
‘The officers had heard by way of the radio that I had been watching them by way of CCTV cameras as a result of I informed the sergeant I used to be not comfortable as a result of they have been in my residence whereas I used to be not there and since they have been sitting on my couch watching TV.
‘Then one officer goes as much as the digital camera and says ‘hey Abbygail I do know you are watching us’ then sits again on the couch which is once more inappropriate.’
CCTV additionally captured officers scaling her backyard fence as an alternative of utilizing the unlocked gate to enter her residence a day later
Ms Lawton was within the midst of a psychological well being disaster when she went lacking earlier this month
Ms Lawton claimed the officers additionally carried out a knowledge breach as they left their radios on loud so she might hear the entire different crimes being reported within the space, together with victims and criminals names, ages and addresses.
An investigation has since been launched by Greater Manchester Police’s skilled requirements division, who’re wanting into the officers who sat in her residence for hours in addition to the feminine officer who initially informed them to ‘chill’.
The pressure can be investigating the usage of pressure by different officers as Ms Lawton was arrested and why she was taken to custody whereas affected by a psychological well being disaster.
After sending out two police helicopters, Ms Lawton had been discovered within the woods round 4am by a female and male police officer.
When she refused to get into the police automotive she claims the male officer put two fingers on her and shoved her into the again of a police automotive.
Ms Lawton added: ‘I used to be crying my eyes out as I used to be actually distressed and he mentioned to me ‘I’ve acquired no sympathy for you crying, you have wasted my time by me in search of you for 5 hours’.’
The sergeant had informed her she can be taken to hospital however as an alternative she was taken to custody.
‘I spent 12 hours in custody. I arrived at 5am and acquired launched at 5pm on the 4th,’ she mentioned.
‘During my interview a feminine police officer requested ‘how would you are feeling if there have been no cops obtainable for emergencies as a result of they have been all out in search of you?’
‘At this level I hadn’t seen the footage of the officers sitting on my couch however they’re clearly not that busy if they’re in search of me sitting on the couch watching TV.
‘Obviously that remark distressed me as I did not imply to waste police time or trigger misery and clearly I used to be in a psychological well being disaster.’
A psychological well being nurse who came over through the ordeal urged her to make a proper grievance, including that she ought to have been taken to hospital as an alternative.
The pressure is now investigating the final stage of service from officers, close to them watching tv and utilizing fitness center tools.
Ms Lawton has slammed the officers – and the pressure have since opened an investigation into their conduct
They are additionally investigating allegations of unprofessional angle and disrespect, use of pressure, energy to arrest and detain in addition to rude language and tone.
Ms Lawton added: ‘I’m ashamed of the cops. Being wrongly arrested it causes trauma and going into custody it’s horrible being in a cell – you possibly can’t do something.
‘You haven’t any privateness as a result of they’re watching you on cameras, they watch you go to the bathroom. That itself has made me lose belief within the police as a result of I assume they will arrest me once more when I’ve performed nothing flawed.
‘I’m upset and ashamed by the 2 officers sitting watching TV, the feedback that they made and the way they acted at my property. I’ve not given them consent to be in my home or watch TV or use my fitness center tools.
‘It was as if they have been mocking me and taking the mick whereas I used to be out within the woods in a disaster, the climate was terrible that day, raining and chilly, I used to be clearly having a psychological well being disaster and so they have been simply sat right here watching TV as if to say ‘f*** it, we do not care if she’s lacking’.
Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for an announcement.
If you want help, Samaritans might be reached on the free helpline 116 123 or through e mail at [email protected]
