Bungling Surrey cops admit armed fugitive managed to slip through the net AFTER siege had started
Despite 200 officers being stationed around the house Paul Hodge managed to get away
COPS have admitted that a suspected drug dealer escaped despite 200 officers being stationed outside his house.
Surrey Police surrounded his home in a dramatic siege yesterday which startled a sleepy village, but it soon became clear the chief suspect - Paul Hodge - had fled.
SWAT teams burst into the house of a semi-detached in Surrey just before 2pm after reports a gunman was inside.
A spokesman for the force admitted yesterday that is was possible officers were left surrounding an empty house, and it was confirmed this had been the case today.
Surrey Police discovered 20 firearms in the small semi-detached property, after they launched a huge assault on the house after a botched drugs raid on Thursday morning.
East Surrey Superintendent Clive Davies, said: "At around 6am on Thursday, 28 July officers attended a property in Smallfield as part of a pre-planned drugs operation.
"On arrival a man was seen in possession of a suspected firearm which resulted in officers immediately withdrawing from the property to await armed back-up.
"Armed officers quickly arrived at the address but to safely manage the scene and the surrounding area a number of steps had to be taken to identify the risk.
"Negotiators attempted to make contact with anyone inside the property and although no-one engaged with them, this is not uncommon in incidents like this.
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"It was established there were no hostages at the property and therefore no immediate threat to any other person meaning a safer approach to entering the property could be taken.
"A drone and dog unit were deployed from elsewhere in the county and travelled to the scene to carry out further searches of the property and surrounding areas, including outbuildings. The NPAS helicopter carried out further searches using heat monitors.
"Officers entered the property later that day and following a thorough search ascertained the man had left the house.
"At this stage it is not known exactly when this happened but it is believed this is likely to have occurred when officers withdrew from the property following the initial firearm threat.
"Around twenty firearms were subsequently located at the property which are currently undergoing forensic analysis.
"I appreciate the disruption this incident caused to the community and residents are thanked for their patience and understanding while the searches were carried out.
"The warrant was executed as part of a pre-planned job entitled Operation Aragon which resulted in ten arrests across East Surrey for drugs related offences."
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