XPost: rec.models.rc.air, alt.law-enforcement, uk.politics.misc   
   XPost: sac.politics   
   From: customerservice@stinko.com   
      
   The couple wrongly accused of the Gatwick drone chaos have spoken out   
   about their treatment at the hands of Sussex Police, saying they feel   
   "completely violated".   
      
   Paul Gait, 47, and Elaine Kirk, 54, criticised the way officers searched   
   their home and revealed that they are receiving medical care after being   
   arrested late on Friday evening.   
      
   Their statement came as Sussex Police faced growing criticism from   
   ministers, who accused them of “messing up” their handling of the Gatwick   
   drone incident, which caused travel misery for more than 140,000   
   passengers.   
      
   Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, chaired an hour-long call with   
   ministers including Sajid Javid and David Lidington on Monday and the   
   first thing that was discussed were the “mistakes” made by Sussex Police,   
   a government source told the Telegraph.   
      
   The main criticism surrounded the police’s statement on Sunday that there   
   was a "possibility" that there might never have been a drone.   
      
      
   “They talked about how this was a mistake from the police,” the source   
   said. “The police know a crime was committed because they had over 200   
   reports of sightings of drones over Gatwick, and they had detailed 67   
   statements, including from police officers and staff at Gatwick airport.   
      
   “That is what they should have said - but they didn’t quite do it like   
   that.”   
      
   Speaking from outside their home in west Sussex, Mr Gait said: "As you can   
   probably imagine, we're feeling completely violated.   
      
    Video grab taken from Sky News of Paul Gait and Elaine Kirk speaking   
   outside their home in Crawley, West Sussex.   
   Video grab taken from Sky News of Paul Gait and Elaine Kirk speaking   
   outside their home in Crawley, West Sussex.  CREDIT: SKY NEWS/PA   
   "Our home has been searched and our privacy and identity completely   
   exposed. Our names, photos and other personal information have been   
   broadcast throughout the world.   
      
   "We are deeply distressed, as are our family and friends, and we are   
   currently receiving medical care.   
      
   "The way we were initially perceived was disgusting, although those who   
   knew us didn't doubt us for a second."   
      
    Sussex Police have come under fire from Cabinet ministers for the   
   handling of the Gatwick Drone attack   
   Sussex Police have come under fire from Cabinet ministers for the handling   
   of the Gatwick Drone attack CREDIT:  PAUL GROVER   
   Sussex Police Detective Chief Superintendent, Jason Tingley, on Sunday   
   revealed that the force had received 67 calls from police officers,   
   airport staff and members of the public reporting drone sightings, but   
   said none of them had actually been confirmed.   
      
   Asked about speculation there was never a drone, he replied: "Of course,   
   that's a possibility. We are working with human beings saying they have   
   seen something."   
      
   His comments came after the force released window fitter, Paul Gait, 47,   
   and his wife, Elaine Kirk, 54, without charge after spending 36 hours in   
   custody.   
      
   The pair were questioned for 36 hours after being arrested on Friday on   
   suspicion of being behind what police had previously said was a   
   "deliberate act of disruption".   
      
   Ministers described the "possibility" comment as a “mess up”, according to   
   Sky News, and said the police “have not handled their communication   
   response well”.   
      
   During the call Mr Lidington, Theresa May’s de facto deputy, urged   
   colleagues to make it easier to authorise requests for military   
   assistance.   
      
   Mr Grayling briefed ministers on his plans to prevent copycat incidents.   
   He has been in talks with the chief executives of all other main airports   
   in the country.   
      
   Mr Grayling also described his talks with insurers, in which he has urged   
   them to pay out compensation for the disruption where it is meant to be   
   paid.   
      
   Security Minister Ben Wallace said on Monday night that the Government was   
   "able to now deploy detection systems throughout the UK" to combat the   
   threat posed by drones.   
      
   "The huge proliferation of such devices, coupled with the challenges of   
   deploying military counter measures into a civilian environment, means   
   there are no easy solutions," he said.   
      
   "However I can say that we are able to now deploy detection systems   
   throughout the UK to combat this threat."   
      
   He added: "Those people who chose to use drones either recklessly or for   
   criminal purposes can expect the most severe sentence and jail time when   
   caught."   
      
   The disruption at the UK’s second-biggest airport began at about 9pm on   
   Wednesday and affected about 1,000 flights and ruined the travel plans of   
   more than 140,000 people.   
      
   More than 200 reports of drone sightings were made and police took 67   
   statements, including from police officers and airport workers.   
      
   A spokesman for Gatwick said: "There were multiple confirmed sightings of   
   drone activity at the airport".   
      
   https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/24/ministers-accuse-sussex-   
   police-messing-gatwick-drone-investigation/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)