Sleep Well

A disabled woman who says police officers barged into her home and arrested her in the Early Hours has received £40,000 in compensation.

Louise Badman claimed she was " grabbed aggressively" and pinned against The Wall before being handcuffed by South Wales Police.

She Said The Incident had given her unbearable trauma.

South Wales Police said it had settled a civil claim arising from the arrest of A Woman at her home.

Ms Badman, 49, from Porthcawl, said she woke in the Early Hours of 12 September 2020 to three police officers at her door.

" It was about 02:30 BST and there were three police officers who woke me up. I was grumpy because I don't Sleep Well at The Best of times, " She Said .

" I went To My window downstairs to speak with them and asked them to come back at a reasonable hour. "

Ms Badman, who has complex post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, depression and two herniated discs in her back, said the officers became " very confrontational and aggressive" before The Female officer put her hand through The Window and unlocked The Door .

" I was in my pyjamas, I didn't have any footwear on and they pinned me against The Wall and 'cuffed me, " She Said .

" Because of The Position of where my arms were I was in considerable pain, I was screaming at them to stop as they were hurting me, and my pyjama bottoms fell down.

" I was standing there, exposed, and the officers made no effort to pull up my bottoms or preserve my dignity. "

As a victim of child sexual abuse, Ms Badman said The Incident took her back to feelings she felt as a child - of being traumatised and feeling helpless.

" It was horrific, I just felt like I wasn't worthy of respect from South Wales Police.

" I don't have a history of violence. There were no markers for them to use the disproportionate level of abuse they did. They had no reason To Believe I wouldn't be compliant. "

Ms Badman said after being handcuffed she asked for water, a gown or a blanket, but was refused all three by the officers.

" I was shivering in The Van and my bottoms fell down again, I again asked for a blanket and This Was refused.

" I was shaking and I think I went into shock, and I started vomiting, I was begging them for a medic. "

She Said that she was denied a medic and was not given a cup to drink water from the dispenser in her cell.

" They didn't abide by the duty of care, I just felt unworthy, " She Said .

Ms Badman said The Incident followed a false allegation by someone she had never met.

South Wales Police levied The Charge on her but it was discontinued by The Crown Prosecution Service because of a lack of evidence.

" Regardless of this, I Am a vulnerable, disabled woman, with no markers, I wasn't a threat to two male and a female officer, " She Said .

She Said that the compensation and apology were meaningless if no change were to happen.

" I want there to be change and for the officers to be punished. If we attacked an officer, we would be in prison, the same thing should happen to them.

" There is No Place for that kind of abuse. "

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Bacon, from South Wales Police, said: " I have apologised for the actions of officers when Ms Badman was arrested and handcuffed, and for the distress caused.

" I Am aware that these events were traumatic and have damaged her confidence in The Police as well as her health. I hope The Apology and settlement of the civil proceedings will rebuild her confidence in The Police , and start The Healing process. "

Source of news: bbc.com