Pensioner Alleges Police Intimidation Over £10 Dispute, Force Apologises
A pensioner has spoken out about what she describes as a "shocking" and "intimidating" encounter with police officers who visited her home over a minor payment dispute involving just £10. Barbara Edwards, 78, from Middleton, found herself at the centre of a row with a local business after it was claimed she had failed to pay the full amount owed for a service.
The Dispute and Police Visit
The business had requested Mrs Edwards pay an additional £10, but following a disagreement over the sum, she chose to pay it in £1 daily instalments, admitting her own behaviour was "childish." By Wednesday, with £8 still outstanding, two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) arrived at her doorstep for an encounter lasting around 30 minutes.
Mrs Edwards claimed the officers accused her of committing a crime during the visit. "I said I don't agree, but they weren't listening and were intimidating and putting me down," she said. "I felt like what I had to say did not matter and they were just rude to me, very rude. The whole situation was ludicrous." She also took issue with the officers failing to properly introduce themselves.
Alleged Threats Over Pet Dog
During the visit, Mrs Edwards alleged that the officers made comments about her pets, including a Cane Corso dog she describes as "scary" but perfectly safe. One officer requested that she move her dog to another room, but she refused, saying her dog would "take the door off" if left separately.
She further claimed that one of the officers cautioned: "If you do not control that dog I will call the van and get him seized." Upon hearing this, Mrs Edwards says she felt uneasy in her own home and asked them to leave. "I thought it was a joke. They had no right to make these comments. I was angry and shocked at what she said to me," she added.
Pressure to Sign Letter and Aftermath
Mrs Edwards also stated the officers were insistent that she sign a letter accusing her of theft. "I signed it to get rid of them," she said. "It wasn't their place to say that." She discussed how her pets provide her with crucial support, noting: "I love my cats and dogs, they keep me going, they are everything to me as I live on my own."
After the incident, Mrs Edwards lodged a formal complaint with the police regarding her treatment. In response, Greater Manchester Police issued an apology, but Mrs Edwards declined to accept it, describing it as "weak." A spokesperson for the force said: "We have received a complaint with regards to the conduct of officers visiting a woman as part of an investigation. We remain in contact with the complainant and are assessing the report appropriately."
