Police station representation?
Discussion
OP, as others have said, always obtain legal advice if being interviewed at a police station.
agtlaw said:
Plainly a cynical attempt to keep the recorded crime figures down but understandable that the police don't want to know.
Yes, plainly a key area for statistical manipulation since there are about 0 reports per day of this La Liga said:
StottyEvo said:
What would stop the OP saying "Ummm no, I'd rather not thanks"?
Nothing, but it opens up the risk of arrest depending on the circumstances. StottyEvo said:
If he was arrested wouldn't be in the same situation interview wise? Although I suppose if he's arrested the downside is that they could arrest him at an inconvenient time?
Exactly. To most people, being arrested is a traumatic and highly unpleasant experience. If you can get away with not being arrested, why wouldn't you?Mk3Spitfire said:
StottyEvo said:
If he was arrested wouldn't be in the same situation interview wise? Although I suppose if he's arrested the downside is that they could arrest him at an inconvenient time?
Exactly. To most people, being arrested is a traumatic and highly unpleasant experience. If you can get away with not being arrested, why wouldn't you?
StottyEvo said:
I was merely asking, it looks as though I presumed correctly. If I'm ever in that situation I may decline, I've never been arrested before it could be an experience
It's ok, mine was more of a rhetoric question! It's quite interesting watching different people's reactions to being arrested, especially the first time.
Mk3Spitfire said:
It's ok, mine was more of a rhetoric question!
It's quite interesting watching different people's reactions to being arrested, especially the first time.
Stop all this talk of arrest.It's quite interesting watching different people's reactions to being arrested, especially the first time.
Eclassy will be along in a minute with one of his or his friends experiences and the necessity test criterion calling for officers heads to be put on sticks.....oh wait.....
StottyEvo said:
I was merely asking, it looks as though I presumed correctly. If I'm ever in that situation I may decline, I've never been arrested before it could be an experience
It won't be one you will be wanting to repeat. Imagine being locked in a room with nothing to stimulate you. Literally nothing. You can hear strange noises. You have no idea when you will be interviewed and you can lose track of time. If you ask when you will be told they don't know. The food varies from inedible to just not great. You literally sit in an empty room powerlessly waiting for something, anything to happen. If you stay the night you might hear screaming and shouting. Randomly someone will come along and look at you., if your lucky they might make brief small talk. Every so many hours someone will come in and say they are authorising your detention. This is a one way conversation and lasts seconds. Finally out of nowhere someone will open the door and say you are going to be interviewed.
All that time you have no idea what is going on. Your home may be being searched, your phone might be being looked through. The only thing you are sure off is that you have completely lost all control. Even when the duty solicitor is finished speaking to you on the phone, you feel a sense of dread realising you're going back in the cell/cage.
Personally, and I'm a bit cynical - but I think this is set up to mentally break people down. Small comforts which would cost nothing and make a big difference are not provided. I was 17 stone with decent abs when I was first arrested, I remember when I had my consultation 17 hours later with a solicitor I burst into tears and cried like a baby. The sounds and smells of a police station are something that I still don't like. You are generally not held in a police station for a long time, but I can assure you it's probably the most unpleasant thing you can experience.
photosnob said:
It won't be one you will be wanting to repeat.
Imagine being locked in a room with nothing to stimulate you. Literally nothing. You can hear strange noises. You have no idea when you will be interviewed and you can lose track of time. If you ask when you will be told they don't know. The food varies from inedible to just not great. You literally sit in an empty room powerlessly waiting for something, anything to happen. If you stay the night you might hear screaming and shouting. Randomly someone will come along and look at you., if your lucky they might make brief small talk. Every so many hours someone will come in and say they are authorising your detention. This is a one way conversation and lasts seconds. Finally out of nowhere someone will open the door and say you are going to be interviewed.
All that time you have no idea what is going on. Your home may be being searched, your phone might be being looked through. The only thing you are sure off is that you have completely lost all control. Even when the duty solicitor is finished speaking to you on the phone, you feel a sense of dread realising you're going back in the cell/cage.
Personally, and I'm a bit cynical - but I think this is set up to mentally break people down. Small comforts which would cost nothing and make a big difference are not provided. I was 17 stone with decent abs when I was first arrested, I remember when I had my consultation 17 hours later with a solicitor I burst into tears and cried like a baby. The sounds and smells of a police station are something that I still don't like. You are generally not held in a police station for a long time, but I can assure you it's probably the most unpleasant thing you can experience.
100%Imagine being locked in a room with nothing to stimulate you. Literally nothing. You can hear strange noises. You have no idea when you will be interviewed and you can lose track of time. If you ask when you will be told they don't know. The food varies from inedible to just not great. You literally sit in an empty room powerlessly waiting for something, anything to happen. If you stay the night you might hear screaming and shouting. Randomly someone will come along and look at you., if your lucky they might make brief small talk. Every so many hours someone will come in and say they are authorising your detention. This is a one way conversation and lasts seconds. Finally out of nowhere someone will open the door and say you are going to be interviewed.
All that time you have no idea what is going on. Your home may be being searched, your phone might be being looked through. The only thing you are sure off is that you have completely lost all control. Even when the duty solicitor is finished speaking to you on the phone, you feel a sense of dread realising you're going back in the cell/cage.
Personally, and I'm a bit cynical - but I think this is set up to mentally break people down. Small comforts which would cost nothing and make a big difference are not provided. I was 17 stone with decent abs when I was first arrested, I remember when I had my consultation 17 hours later with a solicitor I burst into tears and cried like a baby. The sounds and smells of a police station are something that I still don't like. You are generally not held in a police station for a long time, but I can assure you it's probably the most unpleasant thing you can experience.
It may be completely different if you have done something wrong and expecting to be arrested but if you are innocent, it is a terrible experience. There must be a few innocent people in prison and The eight hours I spent in a custody gave me a very faint of idea of how miserable it must be being banged up for a considerable amount of time for something you didnt do.
I did exactly the same as you although the crying bit for me was at the beginning when I was being arrested. I definitely lost track of time and I eventually rolled up a piece of paper I was given when arrested and used it to play football, complete with after goal celebrations.
My home was ransacked and my money stolen but this was before I even attended the station. I wasnt interviewed as I was released without charge when the police had a lightbulb moment. I was mocked by the policemen and shouted at (Get back in your box!)
All in all a traumatic experience and not one anyone should pray to experience.
StottyEvo said:
If he was arrested wouldn't be in the same situation interview wise? Although I suppose if he's arrested the downside is that they could arrest him at an inconvenient time?
Pretty much. Most police officers don't want to be in the cell area and would rather do a voluntary interview for a minor matter. Much quicker.
agtlaw said:
xr2gte said:
Will try and keep this short & to the point.
I've been asked to attend the police station for an 'informal chat' concerning a 1 vehicle RTA in night in countryside that I was involved in some time ago. PC stated talk is to determine whether to prosecute.
No other vehicles/witnesses. Car a write off, insurance paid out ages ago.
Didn't remain with vehicle due to location/time of night and was suffering with concussion. Accident reported as soon as I could, although this was some hours later.
Can I get legal aid for police station representation despite not being arrested?
Don't believe him. I've heard this all too often. "Informal chats" have turned into dangerous driving trials in front of a jury.I've been asked to attend the police station for an 'informal chat' concerning a 1 vehicle RTA in night in countryside that I was involved in some time ago. PC stated talk is to determine whether to prosecute.
No other vehicles/witnesses. Car a write off, insurance paid out ages ago.
Didn't remain with vehicle due to location/time of night and was suffering with concussion. Accident reported as soon as I could, although this was some hours later.
Can I get legal aid for police station representation despite not being arrested?
Get a solicitor. It's free of charge if the firm has a criminal legal aid franchise. Doesn't matter if arrested or not.
get some representation
I don't like officers using phrases like "informal chat". It's probably their way of trying to convey there's nothing to worry about, but I think it's important to be clear.
"I need to interview you under caution about X, Y and Z. I'd prefer to do this voluntarily at the police station at a time that suits us both. I can arrange for a solicitor to meet us there if you so wish."
"I need to interview you under caution about X, Y and Z. I'd prefer to do this voluntarily at the police station at a time that suits us both. I can arrange for a solicitor to meet us there if you so wish."
Eclassy said:
100%
It may be completely different if you have done something wrong and expecting to be arrested but if you are innocent, it is a terrible experience. There must be a few innocent people in prison and The eight hours I spent in a custody gave me a very faint of idea of how miserable it must be being banged up for a considerable amount of time for something you didnt do.
I did exactly the same as you although the crying bit for me was at the beginning when I was being arrested. I definitely lost track of time and I eventually rolled up a piece of paper I was given when arrested and used it to play football, complete with after goal celebrations.
My home was ransacked and my money stolen but this was before I even attended the station. I wasnt interviewed as I was released without charge when the police had a lightbulb moment. I was mocked by the policemen and shouted at (Get back in your box!)
All in all a traumatic experience and not one anyone should pray to experience.
It's quite amusing that Teresa May wonders why there's a PR problem with plod. Maybe if she stepped outside her crystal castle and looked at issues properly issues like this would be less common.It may be completely different if you have done something wrong and expecting to be arrested but if you are innocent, it is a terrible experience. There must be a few innocent people in prison and The eight hours I spent in a custody gave me a very faint of idea of how miserable it must be being banged up for a considerable amount of time for something you didnt do.
I did exactly the same as you although the crying bit for me was at the beginning when I was being arrested. I definitely lost track of time and I eventually rolled up a piece of paper I was given when arrested and used it to play football, complete with after goal celebrations.
My home was ransacked and my money stolen but this was before I even attended the station. I wasnt interviewed as I was released without charge when the police had a lightbulb moment. I was mocked by the policemen and shouted at (Get back in your box!)
All in all a traumatic experience and not one anyone should pray to experience.
BigBob said:
Purely out of interest - would one be allowed to smoke?
BB
There was a program on TV recently about a custody unit in Luton and a detainee was allowed into the yard for a smoke. I dont know if its normal or if was just one for the TV.BB
I should mention that I refused all food and drink while I was held. To be honest, For me food was the last thing on my mind at the time. My biggest worry was thinking I would be deported (I know thats quite extreme thinking but cause it was new experience for me, I believed that if the police lock you up, they think you are guilty) and have to face my dad who was always against my idea of coming here.
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