Business owner says police 'ruining livelihoods' after armed raid - The Coventry Observer

Business owner says police 'ruining livelihoods' after armed raid

Coventry Editorial 8th Mar, 2019 Updated: 8th Mar, 2019   0

ARMED police who stormed storage units in a late night raid are ‘ruining livelihoods’ says a business owner.

Around 70 officers – some armed and in riot vans – arrived at Pedley’s Storage Units on Wilson’s Lane, Exhall on Wednesday night (March 6), and have been there ever since.

Police say they are carrying out investigations in the area after two 27-year-old Coventry men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

Pedley’s Storage owner Tony Pedley says he and other business owners had been left unable to function as police have refused to let customers access the site and its storage containers.




There is also a food van which has been unable to open and traders, who use the units daily to keep tools in and operate from, have been told they cannot go to retrieve their items.

But Mr Pedley said police have been rude to him and his customers and seem to be ‘dragging out’ the operation.


He added: “There are so many police here, and they are literally telling us nothing. On top of this they are being rude to myself and my customers.

“Along with our business and others on the site this is affecting the many traders who need to access these containers for work. People who rely on their wages day to day literally have no money because of this and the police could not care less.

“It’s an absolute waste of taxpayers’ money. This has been going on for nearly three days now.

“In the meantime we’re just trying to support our customers as best we can, but the police don’t seem to care whose livelihoods they’re affecting.”

A spokesman from West Midlands Police told the Observer: “There is an ongoing police investigation.

“A search continues in Bedworth, we appreciate the patience and cooperation of local businesses while this is carried out.”

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