An elderly woman has shared her experience of feeling alarmed when police officers arrived at her residence over a dispute involving a £10 payment. Barbara Edwards, residing in Middleton, became involved in a disagreement with a local business that claimed she had not fully settled the amount owed for a service.
The business requested Mrs. Edwards to pay an additional £10, but due to a disagreement over the sum, she opted to pay it in £1 daily installments, acknowledging her behavior as “childish.”
On Wednesday, with £8 still outstanding, two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) showed up at her door, leading to a 30-minute encounter. Mrs. Edwards alleged that the officers accused her of committing a crime during the interaction.
Expressing her frustration, Mrs. Edwards mentioned, “I said I don’t agree, but they weren’t listening and were intimidating and putting me down. 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.”
Mrs. Edwards also raised concerns about the officers’ lack of proper introduction. During the visit, she claimed that the officers made remarks about her pets, including a Cane Corso she described as “scary” but harmless. She expressed understanding of the dog’s imposing presence, stating, “I get it’s a big dog and it’s scary.”
One of the officers requested Mrs. Edwards to relocate her dog to another room, but she refused, citing that her dog would cause damage if isolated. She alleged that an officer warned, “If you do not control that dog I will call the van and get him seized.”
Feeling uncomfortable in her own home upon hearing this, Mrs. Edwards asked the officers to leave, stating, “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.”
Mrs. Edwards claimed that the officers insisted 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 also shared the emotional support and love she receives from her pets, emphasizing their significance in her life as she lives alone.
Following the incident, Mrs. Edwards filed a complaint against the police regarding her treatment. In response, the force issued an apology, which Mrs. Edwards deemed as “weak” and declined to accept.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police stated, “We have received a complaint regarding the conduct of officers visiting a woman as part of an investigation. We are in contact with the complainant and are evaluating the report accordingly.”
