COP SHOP STROP
Woman locked in when station shut sues force SiCo’s little un makes splash
A DISABLED woman is suing police who “forgot” she was in a station and locked her in when it shut.
Patience Tagarira arrived at the desk at 7.30pm to report a traffic accident she witnessed.
She was put in a waiting room in Luton nick and told someone would take a statement. But after being told staff would still be in to deal with her and let her out when doors were locked at 8pm, no one came. Mrs Tagarira said she felt sick as she could not take medication for a renal problem.
She banged on a window but was not released until officers in a car spotted her at 9.45pm.
Mrs Tagarira claims she suffered psychological damage in the May 24 ordeal. She said: “I believe the officers failed me. I’d been forgotten, left and locked up in the reception lobby.”
Bedfordshire Police apologised but said it was a simple error. Their lawyers said they “accepted officers failed to communicate” but she could have used Luton Police Station’s internal phone.
Attiq Malik of Liberty Law Solicitors, which is advising Mrs Tagarira, said the force’s response was “astounding”. SIMON SIM Cowell’s son Eric is having a splashing spl time on a Barbados break with wi Eric, tE mum three, Lauren looked Silverman. cool in shorts, shades sha and cap, while Lauren, 40, wore wo a sarong and swimsuit as the pair p held hands for a paddle.