A grocery store owner yesterday criticised Police officers for their lackadaisical handling of a "voodoo-style'' death threat left outside his store.

Lines Food and Liquor owner Richard Powell said he was startled to find a white doll hanging from a hangman's noose at the entrance to his store when he arrived there yesterday morning.

But that was nothing compared to the shock Police officers have given him with their shoddy treatment of his complaint.

Mr. Powell said he called the Police upon discovering the doll at 6 a.m. and then photographed it.

A Policeman arrived shortly after 7 a.m. and "he didn't actually laugh but he shrugged his shoulders and sniggered when I pointed it out to him,'' said Mr.

Powell.

"He then asked me how I knew it was directed at me,'' he continued.

"It's on the door of my store. I mean, it's 6 a.m. and I've just found an effigy of a white man -- a white doll -- hanging outside my shop.

"What does it take to figure it out -- a rocket scientist? Who's it going to be directed at -- someone up the road?'' Mr. Powell said he told the officer that if he was not willing to handle it properly then he should leave the doll alone.

"He asked me what I wanted from the Police. I said surely there has got to be fingerprints on it? "I was very annoyed -- to put it nicely -- so I went inside to calm down.

"When I came out he had removed the doll and thrown it on the floor of the passenger side of his car.

"It wasn't in a plastic bag so it wasn't kept sterile to protect any possible fingerprints. He obviously didn't care if he destroyed any possible evidence that was there.'' Mr. Powell said the officer filled out a form and left. He then called the inspector on duty and told him about the matter.

All the inspector seemed concerned with, he continued, was whether or not a complaint against the officer was being filed.

"I said to him, look, I just found an effigy directed at me hanging outside my store. I haven't even thought about filing a complaint.'' Store owner slams Police Mr. Powell explained that he had problems with one of the young men who hung out across the street from his store on Monday.

He said he threatened to file charges with the Police against the man after he swore at him.

But he said he had not filed any charges yet because the Police had still not contacted him on this matter either.

Mr. Powell continued: "At this point it's 3.45 (p.m.) and I'm still waiting for the Police. Have you had a phone call from the Police -- I haven't.'' He added: "How would you take it -- as a joke or as a death threat? "It just shows how interested they are, they have yet to take a statement from me. When will they deal with this -- two weeks down the road? "Is crime down or are reports of crime down? If this is the treatment the Police give then why bother reporting anything?'' Richard Powell