EXCLUSIVE: Police do not know which officers unlawfully stormed student flat

Despite some 20 police officers entering a student flat without a warrant during a raid on squats that turned out to be empty, police are unable to locate any bodycam footage because they do not know the identities of the officers who took part.

The front door of the student flat between two previously squatted premises was broken down soon after 6.30am on June 4 as police enforced a closure order linked to escalating criminality and anti-social behaviour.

More than 100 officers joined a team of bailiffs already on the roof of buildings on High Street in the Old City, using specialist cutting equipment to force entry into the former squats, in an operation that cost Avon & Somerset Constabulary more than £20,000.

Some of these officers were from Avon & Somerset police but others were from forces across England and Wales who had been drafted into help under what is called ‘mutual aid’.

No records were kept about which officers from which mutual aid force entered each property, meaning that no bodycam footage is able to be found from any of the estimated 20 officers who unlawfully entered the student flat.

Former Avon & Somerset Constabulary chief constable, Andy Marsh, who still led the force on the day of the raid, was the national police lead for body-worn video, also advising the US and French governments on bodycams for officers.

An Avon & Somerset Constabulary spokesperson told Bristol24/7: “A proportionate investigation has been carried out by our Professional Standards Department (PSD) into all the complaints made.

“The PSD investigator was unable to locate any Body Worn Video footage recorded within the complainant’s property, as a list of mutual aid officers from another force, who were assisting with the operation, was not retained.

“This is not acceptable and several learnings will be implemented for future operations, including ensuring officers are better instructed and advised on how to download and digitally label BWV footage for ease of access and whenever possible, a list of officers will now be retained detailing which properties they are responsible for entering, including those from any assisting forces.”

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Read more: ‘Riot police stormed my student flat during raid on Old City squats’

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Avon & Somerset also admit that an “element of the response” sent to one of the students who lived in the flat, Billy Stockwell, was not true.

The third year University of Bristol student was told by the police that superintendent Mark Runacres had contacted him to make an apology “directly following the incident”.

This is something which Stockwell said did not happen, and that he has not received any emails, calls or texts from Runacres, the Bristol area commander.

In a letter seen by Bristol24/7, an Avon & Police staff member wrote: “I have no reason to doubt the account of Supt Runacres, especially given his senior position within the organisation. I do understand and appreciate that given the shock of what had happened, Mr Stockwell may not have felt ready to accept an apology/contact.”

Police forces from across England and Wales took part in the aborted raid on the squats – photo: Martin Booth

After being asked by Bristol24/7 about the conflicting accounts, an Avon & Somerset spokesperson said: “This element of the response given to the complainant is incorrect.

“In the statement given to the media, in which we confirm that officers entered this property unlawfully, it states that: ‘We’ll implement any learnings coming out of this incident and we’ll make contact with the owners of the property in relation to the cost of repairs for any damage caused.’

“A senior officer from the neighbourhood policing team made contact with the complainant after this statement was made in order to provide a face-to-face apology.

“The complainant requested a written apology and went onto ask a number of additional questions relating to the incident and the policing response.

“In order to address the complaint in its entirety, a proportionate formal complaint investigation was carried out and a full apology has now been given in writing to the complainant.

“A number of learnings have been identified as part of this investigation and they will be implemented in full to help prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future.

“We’d like to publicly reiterate our apology to the complainant for any distress caused to him and to those in the flat at the time officers unlawfully entered.”

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Read more: ‘Where is the condemnation from Bristol’s leaders about the actions of the police?’

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Stockwell, one of the students whose flat was unlawfully entered, told Bristol24/7: “I’m grateful that we have finally received an apology from Avon & Somerset police, but the journey here has highlighted some worrying issues.

“Avon & Somerset police have not been able to track down any of the officers that illegally raided my house. How can the police be held accountable for unlawful behaviour when the officers involved in the raid can’t even be identified?

“They also can’t find any body camera footage, despite around 20 officers being involved in the raid.

“Such errors have the potential to seriously impact people’s lives and I expect them to be addressed within the constabulary at the highest level.”

Stockwell added: “Throughout this whole process, Avon & Somerset police keep reassuring me that they are going to learn from their mistakes.

“I can only hope that these words are matched by appropriate action within the force.”

One of the doors broken by police when unknown officers unlawfully entered the student flat – photo: Billy Stockwell

Central ward councillor, Ani Stafford-Townsend, said that they have asked police & crime commissioner, Mark Shelford, to investigate the incident and locate the missing bodycam footage “as a matter of urgency”.

They said: “We’re supposed to have policing by consent and we must be able to trust that our police officers behave with the utmost integrity.

“Unfortunately we have seen repeated overreaching of powers and a lack of transparency in police actions these last months.

“This and another incident in March are the inappropriate police action we know of. How many incidents do we not know about?

“Bodycam footage does not just disappear. I have already requested that our new police & crime commissioner investigate the incident we knew about. He must now locate this footage as a matter of urgency.”

Main photo & video: Martin Booth

Read more:

• Squatters move from one city centre building into another
• Squatters transform empty building into radical library and book exchange
• Sparks fly as police raid High Street squats
• Students yet to receive apology from police six weeks after unlawful raid

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