POLICE nicked a father and son for selling “cocaine” which turned out to be white flour.
Officers probing reports of a disturbance raided a flat and seized the white powder from a kitchen side.
The men were “incredulous” and denied the allegations but were held in cells where they were shown snaps of the “gear”.
The son insisted it was flour but police refused to believe him — and sent off the substance for testing.
They bailed the pair pending further inquiries but kept them waiting two months under suspicion before clearing them.
Tests proved it was flour thought to have been used for cooking, and Merseyside Police later recommended no further action be taken.
The father and son, 60 and 30, sued for trespass, wrongful arrest and false imprisonment.
Merseyside Police had to pay each man £5,000 in compensation over the June 2019 blunder.
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Solicitor Iain Gould, representing the men, said: “The police did not contend any justification for arrest had been given to my client during the first 13 minutes of detention until he was formally arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply flour — sorry, cocaine.
“Police evidently took a dislike to my client and his son, as the inhabitants of low-rent housing with a history of interactions with the police.
“They decided that they would find a reason to arrest them, rather than arresting them for a reason.”
Merseyside Police said it was “appropriate” to negotiate a settlement before the case reached court, adding: “Liability has not been accepted.”
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