Damage caused by police.

GLENN HUGHES made this Freedom of Information request to Victoria Police

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

The request was refused by Victoria Police.

Dear Victoria Police,
Recently I had the police come to my door in relation to another fellow that lived there.
They had a Search warrant and smashed in the front door with a battering ram, found nothing, took $800 worth of my work tools being 1500 Ramset shots for a nail gun, charged no one with anything at all, made some attempt to fix the front door, realised that their information was tainted with revenge and left.

Currently I have severe damage to the front door, door frame and glass.
I have a quote and took that and a letter of demand for payment to police with written notice that further costs may be incurred should the payment not be forthcoming.
This has been met with silence.
No one will offer any advice on how the police can be held liable and accountable for the costs of the damage which was caused by them.

Can you make suggestion for the correct path I should take to seek reimbursement for the costs of the repairs?

Yours faithfully,
Glenn Hughes.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-MGR, Victoria Police

Mr Hughes

I would suggest that the first contact point needs to be the direct line manager of the Police staff executing the search warrant at your residence. So if you have the names of the officers involved, try to speak to their manager. Consultation in this process can result in a positive outcome. If you do not know who the members or their manager is, then write or speak to the Local Area Commander of the area in which you reside. They will be able to point in the right direction.

Thankyou

Kent STANDISH | S/Sgt 29530
Assistant FOI Officer | Freedom of Information | Public Support Services Department
________________________________________________________________________
email: [email address] | web address: www.police.vic.gov.au |
phone: (03) 9247 6802| fax: (03) 9247 5736 | dx: 210096
address: Victoria Police Centre, Level 7, Tower 1, 637 Flinders Street, Docklands Vic 3008

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Dear FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-MGR,

Thank you for your response, I have already contacted the officer involved and wrote a very targeted letter of demand for payment this has been answered with silence so what would be the appropriate action from here? It would appear as criminal damage to me Eg: Aggravated burglary and malicious damage as the warrant to search is not laid out in a manor that would satisfy a legal document.
Which court should I put them in front of and when I refer to "them" would it be the cop who has his name on the search warrant or his senior?

Yours sincerely,

GLENN HUGHES

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-MGR, Victoria Police

Glenn

I am not in a position to provide you with legal advice regarding your matter. I would however suggest that you speak in person with a representative from the area in which you live. Attend at the Police Station and speak to a supervisor and have your concern escalated in that manner. If you have no satisfaction regarding that then you may need to seek legal advice.

Thanks

Kent STANDISH | S/Sgt 29530
Assistant FOI Officer | Freedom of Information | Public Support Services Department
________________________________________________________________________
email: [email address] | web address: www.police.vic.gov.au |
phone: (03) 9247 6802| fax: (03) 9247 5736 | dx: 210096
address: Victoria Police Centre, Level 7, Tower 1, 637 Flinders Street, Docklands Vic 3008

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Dear FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-MGR, Exactly, so there is no real avenue of complaint or guidelines to this problem that Im sure many people face? Again, today I spoke directly, in person to the superior officer. He stated "nothings changed since we last spoke".

Yours sincerely,

GLENN HUGHES

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-MGR, Victoria Police

Mr Hughes

I have probably given you all the advice I can in relation to resolving your issue. My office (FOI) deals only with sourcing and releasing documents to applicants as per the FOI legislation.

Lastly if it is a complaint that you would like to make this can be done by reading the attached e-mail page and submitting a grievance.

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp... or google Victoria Police complaints and the appropriate page will come up.

Thankyou

Kent STANDISH | S/Sgt 29530
Assistant FOI Officer | Freedom of Information | Public Support Services Department
________________________________________________________________________
email: [email address] | web address: www.police.vic.gov.au |
phone: (03) 9247 6802| fax: (03) 9247 5736 | dx: 210096
address: Victoria Police Centre, Level 7, Tower 1, 637 Flinders Street, Docklands Vic 3008

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