Police accused over family's ordeal

Merseyside Police is investigating its response time

Police officers are being accused of taking 30 minutes to respond to a call to a family being terrorised by robbers.

Four masked men threatened a couple and their two-year-old daughter after smashing through the front door of the house in Huyton, Merseyside, at about 0300 BST on Thursday.

A neighbour called police as the raid took place, but the victims say officers took more than 30 minutes to respond.

One of the gang brandished a knife, and shouted "I'll cut your heads off", according to owner Simon Jones, before stealing the family's cars, worth a total of £60,000.

Mr Jones was in bed with his wife Paula - with their daughter Claudia also in the room - when the raiders burst in.

One of the cars the men stole - a blue Volvo V70 estate - is an unmarked emergency vehicle, used to transport human organs.

I thought the police would be round straightaway but it took them more than 30 minutes to turn up Homeowner Simon Jones

Mr Jones, of Campbell Drive, Huyton, handed over the keys to the Volvo and a black Mercedes 4x4 before the gang left, in the direction of Pilch Lane.

The 35-year-old said he was relieved his family were not hurt but criticised police for not responding more quickly.

He said: "I'm just glad my little girl was in the same room as us because he could have killed her.

"I just gave him the keys so he would leave. It was terrifying.

"I thought the police would be round straightaway but it took them more than 30 minutes to turn up."

'Highly distressed'

Merseyside Police promised to investigate the delay, and officers were carrying out house-to-house inquiries on Thursday.

A spokeswoman said: "We intend to fully investigate the circumstances around this call.

"However, on the face of it, it is absolutely unacceptable that we didn't respond immediately."

Chief Superintendent Simon Byrne said the family were very shaken by the incident, but not injured.

"It is understandable that the family were and are highly distressed by what's happened," he said.

"We would urge people to come forward if they have any information that will help with our inquiries."

The Volvo's registration is PK51 MWY and the Mercedes' registration is H12 PVJ.