A MOTHER and daughter who were victims of thieves and a hit-and-run driver in a car crash were ignored when they called police.
Caroline Wray, of Slaithwaite, called police on Saturday morning after discovering thieves had stolen more than £1,000 worth of slate from her kitchen roof.
Two days later her 17-year-old daughter Lily was hit by a fellow motorist and left injured by the man, who then drove off.
Both times Mrs Wray called the police, but was told by a call handler that police would not be attending.
Mrs Wray is now asking what crimes people need to be the victim of before police will attend.
The mother, of Radcliffe Road, said: “What do they do anymore if they’re not attending crimes committed against people?
“It seems wrong that they have someone who isn’t a trained police officer making these decisions.
“I was more angry that the police failed to attend than I was at having my kitchen roof stolen.”
On Saturday morning the Wray family discovered the slate had gone from their kitchen roof.
They estimate it will cost more than £1,000 to replace.
Footprints of the suspected culprits were left in the snow, along with cigarette ends.
But police said they would not attend and gave her a crime reference number.
On Sunday, Greenhead College student Lily was injured when a motorist smashed into her car.
He had a smell of alcohol and drove off without swapping insurance details with Lily.
Lily was left with minor injuries, but did not need hospital treatment. She was comforted by a motorist in a parked car who saw the incident unfold.
Again, Mrs Wray called police at the scene, but was told that officers would not be attending.
She then picked up pieces of the smashed car from the roadside, which could have been evidence.
Mrs Wray said: “They told me both times they weren’t going to send anyone out.
“My daughter was injured, thankfully not badly, because someone drove into her car and then drove off – yet they don’t seem to want to investigate it.
“She said he smelt of alcohol and for all they know he could have been driving round all night.”
“I don’t just want a crime number for the insurance, I wanted the police to investigate what happened.”
Supt Julie Davies, of West Yorkshire Police’s Communications Division, said: “We are investigating the particular circumstances surrounding the incidents that Mrs Wray has reported.
“West Yorkshire Police has robust guidelines in place to ensure the correct response for a call from the member of the public is given.
“This response will meet with Force policy, but also takes into account the needs and concerns of the individual caller.”
“Every incident is however judged upon its own merits and takes into account the situation at the time.”
