KIDS TO SUE OVER DRUG RAID

A Six-year-old girl and her teenage brother are suing a corrupt former
detective over a police raid where machineguns were allegedly pointed
in their faces.

The children and partner of Bandidos motorcycle gang member Robert Kim
Sloan have lodged County Court writs accusing police of assault,
battery and inducing fear.

The March 2000 raid on Mr Sloan's Geelong house led to him being
sentenced to more than four years' jail on drugs charges. Mr Sloan had
argued during his trial that the drugs, which were found during the
third search of his house, were planted by police.

After spending five months behind bars, Mr Sloan was released and his
conviction quashed after the arrest of one of the officers involved in
the raid, former drug squad detective Stephen Paton.

Paton has since been jailed for drug trafficking.

Mr Sloan's children and partner have joined him in launching claims
for compensation over the raid and for the time he spent in prison.

In County Court documents Latia Sloan, who was one month short of her
second birthday at the time of the raid, alleges she was confronted by
heavily armed Special Operations Group officers.

She was threatened with a gun, commands were shouted at her, and
despite crying, she was detained and deprived of the comfort of her
mother, the writ states.

Latia Sloan is suing via her legal guardian, her mother, Karen Gray.
She is seeking damages for emotional distress from the raid and
psychological damage from her separation from her father while he was
in jail.

She is claiming damages from Paton, two other detectives and the State
of Victoria.

In a separate writ Mr Sloan's teenage son, Martin, aged 14 at the time
of the raid, is seeking damages on the same grounds as his sister.

Both children allege the SOG used excessive force.

The civil actions are not expected to be heard in court until next
year.