Police must return knife collection taken in raid
AIR-GUN enthusiast Mark Thorneycroft has won a legal battle forcing police to return a knife collection taken from his home.
Police raided his property on March 17, acting on information from Crimestoppers suggesting they would find illegal firearms and homemade explosive devices.
During the search, officers uncovered a collection of knives, as well as air rifles, air pistols and a deactivated shotgun, all of which he is allowed to own by law.
North Staffordshire Magistrates Court heard yesterday police officers took the knife collection away and refused to give it back, saying Mr Thorneycroft signed a document giving them the authority to destroy the articles.
But Mr Thorneycroft, who said he had spent 30 years amassing the weapon collection, said he could not recall signing the document, because of the stress he was under at the time of the raid.
He made a successful application to the court yesterday under the Police Property Act to have the articles returned to his possession.
The court heard the raid had begun while Mr Thorneycroft was being questioned at Newcastle Police Station.
He was then taken to his home while the officers were still searching the property and told to sign five pieces of paperwork, one of which related to the knife collection.
He told the court: "There was a police van outside my house and several police officers walking in and outside the house with my collection.
"I have no recollection of signing the paperwork and I was given no copy of it.
"Everything I have got I am legally allowed to have in my own home.
"It was a collection I had built up over many years.
"I cannot believe I would give someone the authority to destroy a collection that I had been building up over 30 years.
"The police said the reason they took it was because if I was burgled, it would be putting a lot of weapons on to the street.
"The officers were courteous, but the situation put me under duress. The police did not look like old-fashioned coppers. They looked like the paramilitary."
Deputy District Judge Simon Morgan said he accepted Mr Thorneycroft, whose address was not given in court, had been under significant stress when he signed the document and ordered the return of the items within 24 hours.
He said: "I note that no firearms officers or officer trained to deal with explosives attended the premises.
"Quite why he was not provided with a copy of that document I do not know.
"He says and I accept that, while the officers may have been seen to be doing their duty, he did feel under significant duress of circumstance."
Staffordshire Police declined to comment.
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4 Comments
by George, Nanny State
Saturday, September 11 2010, 1:18AM
“- "with all the knife and gun crime in this country no one should be allowed to have them in their homes at all"
Yes. Let's arrest everyone caught cutting a sandwich or slicing a piece of rope. What's your IQ, by the way?
Here's a thought: With all the knife and gun crime in this country, people should be allowed to defend themselves in their own homes using weapons - because criminals have weapons, despite the laws saying they can't.”
by william barnes, tunstall
Friday, September 10 2010, 8:35PM
“what a pair of idiots you 2 are. with all the knife and gun crime in this country no one should be allowed to have them in their homes at all, i bet it would be a differrant story if one of those knives had been used to hurt a member of your family then you would be shouting why didnt the police take them from him
the police cant do right for doing wrong bet the next time you want help after a little scrout has screwed your house i wonder who you will call wont be ghost busters”
by gaz, Bradwell
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 8:10PM
“This is another example of the bully boy cops making it up as they go. It seams the victim of their bulling knew the law better than they did. As somebody who has seen the lies and deceptions our police will use to get their way, and the way that crown prosecution will back up their "friends", its a brave man who fights his corner. Well done Mr Thorneycroft.”
by Greyone, Police State
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 10:20AM
“Mr Thornycroft said "They looked like paramilitary" but the judge said "I note that no firearms officers or officer trained to deal with explosives attended the premises." So why dress in such a provocative manner? Shortly the whole Police force is going to be dressed like the SAS. Surely the police had records of items this man held LEGALLY and only needed to tick a checklist. They are after all responsible for firearms licenses. The rights and wrongs of whether a collection of this sort should be held at all is for others to decide but this man was within the law as it stands. "Staffordshire Police declined to comment" says it all.”