Gypsies ‘scare police’
POLICE refused to raid a travellers’ site where alleged burglars were hiding because of health and safety fears.
Sean Stanley, 27, and his father Paul were alerted by neighbours after travellers broke in to steal vehicle parts from their farm near Wootton, Northants.
They chased the thieves – who brandished a shotgun out of the window of their van – 10 miles across the countryside before finding the vehicle parked inside Ecton Lane travellers’ camp.
Officers refused to go into the camp to seize the vehicle because it failed to pass a “risk assessment” plan.
The Stanleys were told they would be arrested if they walked into the park.
Sean said: “I gave police everything on a plate. I understand there is protocol but they were scared. They wouldn’t go in. We could see the van so me and my dad said we would go and get it and we were told we would be arrested. It’s ridiculous.”
Northamptonshire Police yesterday admitted no arrests were made and the van and vehicle parts have not yet been seized.