Police called after one flea is found on student's kitten

The police, it seems, did not agree.

A few weeks after giving the 16-week-old cat a new home two officers swooped on his house accompanied by charity workers to demand he return his new pet.

The action came after a single flea had been spotted on the kitten, named Plume, by one of the charity's officers during an earlier visit to check the animal's welfare.

The heavy handed reaction astonished 18-year-old Mr Emberson, from Canvey Island in Essex, who complained that the officers could have been better spent dealing with troublemakers that plague the area.

He said: "I was horrified. We have no end of problems with teenagers around here - but you never see a policeman tackle them.

"I understand the charity do these routine welfare visits, but they were so rude, barging in without any warning.

"They said the police were for their protection - but I am student with a passion for orchids and animals and Plume is just a little kitten, not a wild animal."

The use of resources seems even more bizarre given that just three months ago police had to be granted special powers to move on groups of yobs in Canvey Island after a steady rise in reports of crime and disorder in the area.

Crime figures show there were over 1,000 crimes reported in Castle Point borough, which covers Canvey Island, in the first three months of last year alone, including 131 burglaries, 140 assaults and 280 cases of criminal damage. The police deployment to Mr Emberson's home followed an earlier visit by the charity Cats Protection to check on the welfare of Plume, when a worker claimed to have seen one flea on the white tomcat.

Mr Emberson, who is a horticultural student at Writtle College, Chelmsford and works one day at a garden centre, admitted that he had not been able to afford the latest flea treatment for his pet because he was waiting for his next pay cheque to arrive.

He said: "The charity made it seem as though I couldn't afford to look after the cat. I can, but I am a student and the treatment cost me a day's wages.

"I have paid for him to be vaccinated and everything, but I had missed just one treatment. But they still said they might have to take Plume away.

"I thought I was doing the best thing by getting a rescue kitten. Now I am not so sure."

After pleading with the officials, Mr Emberson was allowed to keep the cat - but he will be monitored every three weeks.

Tracy Hawkings, District Commander of Castle Point confirmed two officers had accompanied Cats Protection to Mr Emberson's home.

She said: "These ladies contacted us and asked for our attendance because their stance was if they went there and there was substance to their concerns, it could cause a breach of the peace."

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "Police frequently receive requests from other agencies to support them when they are attending premises as they are concerned that there may be public order incidents. Each case is judged on its merits.

"In this instance police were asked to attend by the cat protection league as they had intended to take the cat away with them as they were concerned about its treatment."

She said in this case the officers arrived late and did not enter Mr Emberson's home.