Businessman's fury after police smashed door down in raid, found nothing, and won't pay for damage
David Smith outside his shop Curiosity Corner in Chadderton
David Smith outside his shop Curiosity Corner in Chadderton
A businessman has slammed police for refusing to pay for smashing down the front door of his premises in a vain bid to find a cannabis factory in the cellar.
David Smith, 53, billed GMP for £2,999 after the front door of his second-hand furniture shop Curiosity Corner was destroyed during a raid in June, 2013.
Police acting on intelligence had carried out the raid suspecting the cellar was being used as a cannabis factory.
But a two-hour search of the premises on Stanley Road in Chadderton revealed no drugs.
Father-of-two Mr Smith, who started the business with his brother Anthony 30 years ago, insists he's never been involved in drugs.
He told the MEN: "It's absolutely atrocious. I'd had a good relationship with the police. They were always visiting. Never in 30 years of trading have we ever been involved in stolen property or drugs."
When officers had arrived at the property, they called Mr Smith on his mobile phone but he didn't hear the call as he was showering his disabled son at the time, he said.
"It was only when I went out for a cigarette I got a call from my brother about it," he said.
He added: "Whoever has sent the police this piece of information to say there was a cannabis farm were wrong. There was no cannabis farm and never has been."
He complained to the Professional Standards Department of GMP, claiming officers in Oldam had shown no interest in his predicament.
But police officers rejected his complaints and two appeals he made against the ruling.
John Brennan, appeals officer in the PSB, wrote: "This decision is final. There is no further right of appeal against this assessment of your appeal."
A spokesman for GMP declined to comment.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/businessmans-fury-after-police-smashed-7805095 20/09/2014
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