Lynn: Storm over police raid
A WOMAN says she was terrified after police stormed into her home last week.
Angela Champion has hit out at police for forcing their way into her flat, on Saturday Market Place, Lynn, on Friday last week.
Armed police cordoned off the area as part of an operation to arrest two men wanted in connection with the murder of Boston man Jan Pawel Stochnialek.
Mrs Champion, who moved into the flat days before the incident, says that police should have checked their intelligence as the previous occupants left about eight weeks ago.
Mrs Champion was enjoying a day off when she heard a knock on the door and said that three officers burst into her home.
She said: “They were very aggressive. I know they were exercising a warrant and they have to do their job but its not rocket science to realise that I wasn’t a foreign bloke.
“As soon as they realised that I was English they stepped back out of my door.They frightened me to bits – I was a mess for ages.”
Mrs Champion said that she had to show two female CID officers identification and her tenancy agreement.
She said: “The police need to check their information properly before they burst into people’s homes.”
It was a joint operation between Norfolk and Lincolnshire police.
Lynn police station’s Supt Dave Marshall said: “Firearms officers were assisting in the successful arrest of two men wanted for a crime in a neighbouring county. Officers were acting on intelligence provided and were taking action to ensure the safety of members of the public. The men have since been charged with murder.
“We have not received any formal complaints in relation to this matter and I would encourage the complainant to make contact with me to discuss the issues directly.”
A Lincolnshire police spokesman said: “Officers attended the address with a lawful warrant, issued by a magistrates’ court, in connection with a murder enquiry. Three men have subsequently been charged with the offence.
“The safety of the public is of primary concern at all times and it is standard practice for officers executing warrants in such circumstances to be deployed with all necessary resources, including firearms.
“No formal complaint has been received by any member of the public in relation to the execution of this warrant but Lincolnshire Police invite anyone with concerns about the incident to contact us to discuss the matter in person.”
Yesterday Slawomir Dziob, Piotr Szymon Firlit and Bartlomiej Marszalkiewicz appeared in Lincoln Crown Court accused of the murder of Jan Pawel Stochnialek.
Dziob, 34, of Hadley Street, Salford, was arrested in Manchester, and Firlit, 23, and Marszalkiewicz, 25, both of Fieldfare Croft, in Boston, were arrested in King’s Lynn.
Father-of-one Mr Stochnialek, 28, formerly of Albert Street, Boston, was found dead in the South Forty Foot Drain, off Wyberton West Road, Boston, on January 25.
He had been living in Boston for a number of months and was last seen alive at around 5pm on Christmas Eve.
Lincolnshire Police believe Mr Stochnialek was the victim of assault before he died.
None of the trio entered pleas when they appeared in the dock and spoke only to confirm their names during a five minute hearing. They were charged at the end of last week.
There were no bail applications and Judge Michael Heath adjourned the case for a plea and case management hearing at Lincoln Crown Court in May
Supt Dave Marshall has reassured residents that Lynn is a safe place. He has written in response to our coverage of the Saturday Market Place arrests and an attack in Purfleet. See page 14 of today’s paper.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
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