Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Met offers belated apology

It's been a long time coming, but the police have finally issued an apology to the two brothers arrested at Forest Gate, one of whom was shot during the operation.

The apology only came after both brothers held an emotional press conference and laid out the story of what happened to them. Nor, when it came, could the apology be described as effusive.

The Metropolitan police assistant commissioner Andy Hayman said the force had "listened intently" to the concerns of those affected.

"I am aware that in mounting this operation we have caused disruption and inconvenience to many residents in Newham and more importantly those that reside at 46 and 48 Lansdown Road," he said. "I apologise for the hurt that we may have caused."

I notice that he apologises for the hurt that may have been caused rather than the hurt that was caused by the shooting of an innocent man.

However, and maybe I'm misreading this terribly, but what's with the apology to the residents of 48 Lansdown Road? (The two brothers lived at number 46.) Is he seriously including an apology to neighbours who may have been woken up by the noise of gunfire?

Related Articles:

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