The police have let us down, 100 per cent
FAMILY WHOSE HOME WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE FROM NEXT DOOR SAY FORCE WERE REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT IT HOUSED A CANNABIS FARM
A DAD whose home was destroyed after a fire broke out in an adjoining property says his young family have “lost everything in our possession”.
And he feels police could have done more to prevent it from happening.
Jack O’Connell, 27, and his partner Rebecca Crowther were forced to frantically flee their house on Lower Quarry Road in Bradley with their 10-monthold daughter, Francesca, after a blaze broke out at their neighbour’s home in the early hours of Monday.
West Yorkshire Police (WYP) have since confirmed a cannabis farm was found in the house where the fire began. Enquiries remain ongoing.
But Jack says he feels completely let down by the force as he claims police were aware of potential illegal activity at the address for “at least 12 months”.
In response, Inspector Graham Dyson, of the Huddersfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, confirmed officers conducted enquiries outside the property last year but said they did not find the “necessary evidence to obtain a search warrant”.
Describing the terrifying moment he was forced to evacuate his home with his young family, Jack said: “Rebecca and I started to hear crackles and pops coming from next door in the middle of the night. I went downstairs to grab my daughter and we ran outside – getting her out was our main priority.
“We could see orange flames through the window of the home next door – that’s when we rang the fire service. Our neighbour across the street took us in. Around 20 minutes after we had left the house, our roof collapsed. We were lucky to get out when we did. I have never been in a situation like it before in my life – Rebecca was terrified.”
Jack, who moved into the rented home with Rebecca in July, 2019, added: “There is no roof on the house whatsoever any more. The roof collapsed into our bedroom and everything is full of water. The tiles from the roof are scattered across our front garden – it’s not a pretty sight. We have literally lost everything in our possession. We do not own anything any more.”
Jack said the cannabis farm had been reported to police on at least three occasions before the fire took hold.
He said: “Personally, I reported it anonymously to Crimestoppers, but I am aware of two more neighbours who have also reported it to the police. I would imagine the police have been aware of it for a very long time – I would say at least 12 months.
“I feel they (WYP) have let us down, 100 per cent. For all they knew we were not aware of it, and I feel like we should have been given the opportunity to take ourselves away from the situation.”
Insp Dyson said: “We do investigate all intelligence received about cannabis grows and attended at the property in question last summer following reports made. Unfortunately, no evidence of cannabis production could be detected from outside, despite enquiries which included the use of specialist equipment. This meant the necessary evidence was not in place to legally obtain a search warrant to enter the building. I must stress that in many cases intelligence from residents proves a crucial building block in helping us identify cannabis production and we continue to urge residents to make reports to us or anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.”
The family are now lodging with Rebecca’s mum. “It is a case of sofas and floors, but luckily my daughter has a cot where she can sleep,” Jack said. “There is nowhere for us to go. The landlord is trying to re-home us but she has never been in this position either.”
The necessary evidence
was not in place to legally obtain a search warrant in order to enter the building.