cheesey_555

Good bit of Advice there. Do what he said

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Eagerly awaiting update.

This one reminds me of one of our brushes with the law here
After being ignored for burglaries, thefts, and assaults, we FINALLY got TWO coppers round at my house............. wait for it.............

To interview my 15 year old (as was) for trespass.........he took a short cut home from school across the local Junior school field

Priorities, anyone?

Alcazar

Scooby Snacks 23

Update number 3:

The police visited our house on saturday morning. I made him a cup of tea and we sat down. He then cautioned my wife (which I found a bit strange) and then she did a written statement, which took about a hour and a quarter.

He told her what the allegation was and read out extracts from the statement made by the witness. So many things did not make sense or add up. The road it happened in has speed humps every 10m, and is tight with parked cars on either side. She alleges that my wife (who was 2 cars in front of her), having already given way to a car coming in the opposite direction, continued down the road at excessive speed and clipped a VW Golf's wingmirror which sent it "8 to 10 feet in the air". She stated that it was a Silver Audi A3 with a female driving it. In fact it's a dark grey S3 (forget the S, as that's understandable) and as my wife is not tall (5ft 6"), when looking at the back of her car, you cannot see her as her headrest is fairly high. How would she be able to see if it was a female driver from two cars behind when you can tell that from being directly behind? She also doesn't remember the colour of the Golf, despite putting a note on the windscreen.

When the interview was being wound up, he said it for "purely procedural reasons" her she was being charged with:

Driving Without Due Care and Attention
Failing to stop after a Road Traffic Accident
Failing to exchange details after a Road Traffic Accident
Faling to report a Road Traffic Accident



He then inspected the Audi's wingmirror and noted that there is NO damage to it. Now it goes back to the administrator at the police station who subsequently decided (perhaps after discussion with the CPS?) if it goes to court.

I desperately want it to now - even I could have her statement ripped to shreds in court :raz:

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

What a waste of time and money!

Freelance Badger

What a nightmare. As far as I know if she hasn't actually been arrested and taken to a police station she can't have been charged - those charges might be being investigated but at the moment I think that's as far as it can go unless they decide there is enough evidence and they actually come back to arrest her.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

And now, with my "experiences" of the police, I'd be seriously investigating the following:

1. Does the witness' car have damage to IT'S wingmirror?

2. Does someone the witness KNOWS' car have damage to it's wingmirror?

3. Does the witness have some CONNECTION to the police?

4. Does the dmaged car's owner have some connection to the police?

It's all a bit fishy for an accident that caused no injury, and THIS is why you trust the police as far as you could chuck a carload!

Alcazar

Scooby Snacks 23

We think it's number 2 Alcazar and I tell you for why. The road is notorious for the loss of wingmirrors - in the last year or so, they' introduced a bus service down it too and passing is not easy. Everytime I drive down there, there is always at least one mirror on the road. I think it's a case of someone wanting to get one back on the drivers that use that road. My wife (as acknowledged to the police) does use it 3 days a week to take/pick up our son from nursey - it's a nice car with a private plate and we reckon someone's being malicious cos they (or their friends perhaps) have lost a wingmirror themselves at some stage down that road.

The police would not tell us who the witness was, was did say she was "local".

Daryl

Did he offer free legal advice?


If your wife made no admissions in her written statement, then he should have charged her when he first arrived, because he must already have believed that there was sufficient evidence to charge her. If this is the case then the statement was taken under false pretences and you should make a complaint and seek restitution. As mentioned by FB, AFAIK she can only be charged by a custody sergeant, perhaps some of the resident police officers can comment (so far they haven't had much to say ).

You would have thought that any competent person would have inspected the wing mirror prior to making a decision to 'charge', after all it forms part of the evidence. Still, as I said earlier, it seems clear that he had already made his mind up before he arrived - slipshod work and a total abuse of due process. Speak to a solicitor now, the police should not be allowed to get away with this sort of thing - if you have to abide by the law, so should they!

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

There'll be summat going down, that's for sure.

In my experience, the cops will not put this much effort into burglaries, nor common assault, even if the perpetrators of the latter are known

They even took FIVE days to respond when my youngest was assaulted, and threatened with a knife.

So ALL THIS for someone's wing mirror, and no ulterior motive? I think not.

Alcazar

Scooby Snacks 23

UPDATE NUMBER 4: THE CONCLUSION

My wife received a letter in the post yesterday confirming that having considered all the evidence, they will not be taking the matter any further (i.e. the CPS have confirmed my wife has no case to answer).

Hurray - finally common sense prevails.

Interesting thing, within the letter was the name and address of the witness - not sure what the purposes of that was, but there you go, something to keep in mind.....

Freelance Badger

A result for common sense!

Leslie

Glad to hear it, maybe they should charge the "witness" for wasting police time!

Les

OllyK

A late night visit to "inspect" their wing mirror may be in order

SCOsazOBY

it was getting my back up reading what you have both been through and im glad its all sorted out now. i am shocked that it has happened and i think you should check with the police to make sure no black marks are left against your wifes name.
i would deffinately use the extra information you aquired to your satisfaction i know i would

tony95

i wouldn't lower myself to their level personally.

(unless paint stripper on buy one get one free at B+Q)

bob r

iTrader: (46)

scooby snacks-
the problem with this post is there has been far too many posters offering "advice" that has been absolute bollox which has wound you and all other readers up.

the fact of the matter is that a colision took place and an independent witness left their details with the unattended vehicle. the owner of this vehicle then contacted the police (as you or i would have done) and the cops had a duty to investigate it following procedures.

imo the investigating officer could have and should have written off the rtc without the need for a contemepanious i/v,which obviously stressed you and the missus.

the outcome was inevitable.

Nido

Leslie

it struck me that the title of this post sounds a bit like something out of the Fast Show and Arthur Atkinson. "Where's me washboard?".

Les