Armed police raid house to rescue gerbil after owner refused to let RSPCA in

Armed police officers forced their way into a prisoner’s home – to rescue his starving gerbil.

The hungry pet’s owner had been in jail for a week but had refused to give the RSPCA access to his address so that they could rescue the animal.

Eventually Derbyshire Police and the Armed Response Unit were called to the Allestree property and entry was forced.

The gerbil was then escorted to a nearby vet so that it could be cared for by the RSPCA.

Derby City Police Safer Neighbourhood Team later posted on social media about the unusual incident.

‘Tonight our officers have been on the sharp edge of policing as always,’ they wrote.

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‘Our friends at the RSPCA informed us that an individual who was currently in prison, and had been for nearly a week now, had a gerbil at his home address.

‘Sadly the individual was refusing to give access to their address so that the RSPCA Officers could prevent the gerbil from dying or suffering unnecessarily.

‘Our officers forced entry to the address, with some help from the Armed Response Unit and found the gerbil who was thankfully still alive, but very hungry.’

They added: ‘We’re not just about arresting bad guys and posing for photos on Facebook. Sometimes we’re a bit soft and caring.’

A spokesperson at Derbyshire police said armed officers are routinely called on to provide support in gaining access to properties where there is a cause for concern.

They said: ‘Responses to calls from partner agencies, such as the RSPCA, are one of the many elements of community policing.

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‘Attendance at this incident had no impact on operational policing, due to Armed Response Vehicles being deployed across the county.

‘Armed officers are routinely called on to provide support in gaining access to properties where there is a cause for concern.

‘Had there been a need for them to be deployed elsewhere, officers would have been able to be mobilised quickly.

‘In addition, on entering the property, officers found that the gas fire had been left on. This was switched off and the property able to be made safe.’