Armed police storm home of innocent family in Watford

Police descended on Raphael Drive, Watford, on Sunday between 6.30pm and 7pm after a 999 call claimed three people had entered a house with three firearms.

Inside the house was family and friends, who could be heard playing music and laughing – but officers ordered them to open up and armed officers flooded in pointing their guns.

Everyone, including children, were led outside without shoes and thrown into police cars.

Father-of-nine Gifford Lambert, who is registered blind, was on his way inside after working in his garden music studio when he heard an officer say: “You, you behind the gates, come out with your hands up.”

The 54-year-old was frozen with fear as he followed the instructions, and says he could feel a gun on the side of his head and another on the side of his body.

He said: “As I am blind, one wrong move and I could have been shot dead.”

He was then held over a car and handcuffed.

His 25-year-old nephew Omar was the first to be pinned to the ground by police with dogs.

Giffy Lambert (left) with his brother Mark. Mark turned up as the incident was unfolding and was also challenged by police.

Officers searched the house and everyone who had been inside but found nothing and left, allowing everyone back into the house.

But an hour after their ordeal, police returned with more dogs and armed officers. They said they came back to look for something “vital”.

This is the moment armed police return to the house

It has been claimed by the family that the missing item was described as a long black box, thought to be dropped by one of the officers.

The family say they “ripped” the rooms apart and tore sheets off the beds, damaging property and leaving the loft and Mr Gifford’s studio in a “mess.”

Omar asked one officer if his body worn camera was working – and claims he told him it had “run out of battery”, which is why he began filming.

He was still filming when an officer came back down the stairs and said “We found what we were looking for.”

Mr Lambert says despite being the owner of the house, he was never told why the police had come.

The two brothers inside the garden music studio

He says police should have used “common sense” when they arrived at the house and realised the reports they were called to may have have been incorrect.

He said: “Someone could have been killed. It was terrifying and traumatising. My children have been crying and not been able to go to school.

“My boy has never seen a gun in his life and all I hear is that he has had one pointed at him.

“As a family, we feel humiliated and embarrassed. Our neighbours saw everything happening, all of us being put into handcuffs. We want the community to know the truth and we deserve an apology. I’ve lived here 14 years and never had any trouble with the police.

“The way they dealt with this is was shocking. We understand there is procedure and the police have a job to do but we all complied. My children were put into police cars and separated. I had no idea how they were despite asking the police.”

Close friend Nigel Blindt watched the incident unfold and says police must be “accountable”.

Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed it responded to reports of firearms at a house and said no weapons were found. No shots were fired.

A spokeswoman for the police force said: “Officers have a duty to act on information received and any reports involving firearms are taken very seriously.

“Understandably, our main priority is to protect both the safety of the public and the safety of our officers, and detain any person or persons who are illegally in possession of a firearm.

“Officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) armed policing unit, the BCH Dog Unit and Watford Intervention attended the location.

“No arrests were made and we apologise for any distress caused by the search.

“A complaint regarding police response has been made and this will be reviewed by our Professional Standards Department.”