Police raid at woman's home 'not unlawful'

A judge has dismissed claims that police officers unlawfully broke into the home of a Kidderminster woman reported to be armed with a knife.

The case was brought by Mandy Baker, of Park Street, Kidderminster, who was found guilty at Kidderminster Magistrates Court in April of assaulting Pc Lee Horrocks by punching him in the stomach. She was fined £50 and ordered to pay Pc Horrocks £15 compensation.

But yesterday lawyers for Miss Baker argued at London's High Court that she was entitled to use "reasonable force" against officers because they had not sought permission to enter her home.

However, Mr Justice Silber, sitting with Sir Anthony May, rejected the appeal and said the officers' entry into the Park Street home was lawful because they were trying to protect "life and limb".

The court heard that on April 4, 2007, police received reports that a woman had "gone berserk with a knife' at Park Street.

Pc Horrocks confronted Miss Baker in an upstairs room. When his colleague tried to search Baker, she punched Pc Horrocks.

Dismissing the case, Sir Anthony May said: "The entry of the police and the subsequent search for a knife were entirely lawful."