Mum’s horror as cops refuse to help after she found a PETROL BOMB under her car
The 999 operator searched for petrol bomb disposal on the internet and advised the mum to call the council
BUNGLING cops have been forced to apologise after they refused to help a terrified mum who found a petrol bomb under her car.
Mel Brown, 29, was at home with her two children when she bag of petrol, a homemade firework and matches underneath the fuel tank of her BMW 3 Series.
The terrified single mum called police after finding a scorched piece of paper in what looked like a failed attempt to ignite the explosive package.
But when she called 999, Mel was stunned when the operator told her that no one would come out to see her - saying the incident would be logged and passed to local officers.
She even claims that the call handler searched petrol disposal on the internet, and advised her to call the district council to get rid of the bomb.
Hampshire Police eventually turned up following calls from concerned friends and neighbours.
They have since admitted the bungling employee broke protocol, which demands an "immediate" response to any "potential incendiary devices".
Mel said: "I have been locking myself in the flat ever since.
"I have been covering up the windows and locking up the door – I have not slept in days."
She added: "Everyone has said they're disgusted by it.
"It might have been nothing – but I'm not a bomb expert, I don't know that. I am a single mum of two kids to think about.
"To be told I had to get rid of that on my own – I was in total shock."
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A Royal Navy explosives team was eventually dispatched to her home in New Milton, Hants, from 45 miles away in Portsmouth, Hants, to deal with the device on November 15.
A spokesman said a remote controlled robot was used to investigate the object, which he described as an "incendiary device".
Mel said: "More than anything I was scared, then annoyed. It's my kids' lives they put at risk.
"I do not know if it was a targeted thing or random. That's what made it worse. If it was targeted then they know me and know I have kids.
"If it was random they would have seen the child seats in the car and known I have kids. That's when my shock and scare went to anger and rage."
Police are now investigating the incident and said the call handler would be reminded of the procedure.
A spokeswoman added: "The protocol is that reports of any suspicious or potential incendiary devices should be deployed to immediately.
"Clearly, on this occasion, this did not happen in the first instance and was rectified once we received the second call.
"We are sorry that the service the victim received was not acceptable; and are grateful to her friend for not letting the matter rest.
"This is a learning opportunity for us; we are speaking with the call handler and reminding all call takers of the requirement to treat such reports as an immediate deployment.
"As a force we regret the delay and the distress it caused. We have learnt from it and are working to ensure it does not happen again."
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