Laura is a 19-year-old police officer who lives with her parents in Hackbridge, Surrey. When she finished her duty at 5am and was leaving for home she found a pig’s head on the windscreen of her car. She was eighteen when she joined British Transport Police and it was her dream to join the services, but the incident has left her rattled.
While the country is locked down she is on duty as an essential worker ensuring people are safe and adhering to the lockdown amidst the global Coronavirus pandemic.
Her dad told The Sun, “She was just sobbing. As a dad I’m absolutely raging. Laura’s only 5ft tall, there’s nothing of her, this is the job she has always wanted to do since she was a child.”
“What these fellas have done… to come round her home and put that on her car, she feels really violated. It’s very sinister. She doesn’t feel safe in her own home.”
“These guys may think this is a prank, but this is her house and she’s off duty and she’s just beyond herself on this. I feel like they’re threatening my daughter.”
“These guys shouldn’t have even been out of the house anyway because of the lockdown.
“She’s now worried that she’s got to get rid of her car because it’s been targeted. She relies on it to get to work. She’s now got all this stress on top of the job she’s doing.
“I’m at my wits end on this. Particularly at this time as well.
“Society needs to understand that it’s a bad enough job they’re doing when they’re in uniform, but to be targeted off-duty, at night, in your own home, it’s just disgusting. “
During the investigations they have arrested a 19-year-old man who is held captive as it seems he has a connection with the pig.
The Police Officer of the city stated,” Police were called at 06.12hrs on Thursday, 2 April to a residential address in Hackbridge with reports that a pig’s head had been left on a woman’s car.
“Shortly afterwards at approximately 09.23hrs, a 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a section s. 4A public order offence (intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress).
“He is currently in custody at a South London police station. Enquiries are ongoing into the motive and circumstances of the incident.”
The victim has been spoken to and will be supported as the investigation continues “.
Nigel Goodband, Chair of the BTP Federation said:
“I am absolutely appalled that at a time of crisis, when officers are putting their own lives and those of their families at risk to do a job many others wouldn’t, they are having to contend with derogatory treatment from a minority in society.
“I am outraged by this behaviour and I can’t understand the mentality of those who attack the very people who are there to protect us. I would like to think the majority would share our disgust and dismay.
“We and the Force are in touch with the officer to offer our support. “