FAMILY'S TRAUMA AT 'MISTAKEN IDENTITY' DRUGS OPERATION

A BALLYMENA family have told of their distress as drug squad officers
searched their home in what turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

One of the children living in the house was due to sit an A-level
examination the next morning.

The case was raised at the recent meeting of Ballymena District
Policing Partnership by independent member Audrey Wales, who asked
how such a thing could happen.

Questioning the amount of intelligence gathered beforehand, she said:
"It turned out the police had got the wrong house, yet this family
had been living in the property for a year."

Mrs Wales said the family had been in contact with her and that the
whole experience had been a very traumatic one for them, particularly
for their daughter who had been taking A-level exams at the time.

Inspector Pete Bouma said: "Policing is not an exact science. On
occasions, we get it wrong.

"An officer has been out to visit the family and has
apologised."

He added: "We have offered the young resident involved a trip down to
the police station and the opportunity to meet with police officers
to alleviate any fear that may have been caused by what happened."