Visit to Police Station. Advice please...

Visit to Police Station. Advice please...

Author
Discussion

benm3evo

Original Poster:

383 posts

180 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Hi,

I came home today to find a note through my door from the Police. They asked me to email/call them do discuss something.

I called as soon as I could & spoke to the PC (a very pleasant chap). He advised me that they had received a complaint regarding a vehicle being driven in a 'careless manner' & they needed to follow it up.

He couldn't give me too many details over the phone but the car does match my car's details. The incident took place over a month ago so I can't recall anything about that day (where I might have gone etc) so I have no idea what this could be about.

I have arranged to go into the station next week where I'll be questioned & the details recorded.

I was hoping I may be able to get some useful advice or experiences please as I have no idea what to expect. During the brief phonecall the PC did re-assure me to say it's nothing to worry about, & it was not a major incident but obviously I am worried!

Thanks for any help.
Cheers.

Defcon5

6,159 posts

190 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
ITS A TRAP

Eclassy

1,201 posts

121 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
S O L I C I T O R.

benm3evo

Original Poster:

383 posts

180 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
I thought as much, I'm going on the run!

Bigends

5,412 posts

127 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
benm3evo said:
Hi,

I came home today to find a note through my door from the Police. They asked me to email/call them do discuss something.

I called as soon as I could & spoke to the PC (a very pleasant chap). He advised me that they had received a complaint regarding a vehicle being driven in a 'careless manner' & they needed to follow it up.

He couldn't give me too many details over the phone but the car does match my car's details. The incident took place over a month ago so I can't recall anything about that day (where I might have gone etc) so I have no idea what this could be about.

I have arranged to go into the station next week where I'll be questioned & the details recorded.

I was hoping I may be able to get some useful advice or experiences please as I have no idea what to expect. During the brief phonecall the PC did re-assure me to say it's nothing to worry about, & it was not a major incident but obviously I am worried!

Take a legal advisor with you. Dont be interviewed without one present. They should have advised you to do this and whether or not you were to be interviewed under caution.



Thanks for any help.
Cheers.

benm3evo

Original Poster:

383 posts

180 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Solicitor...so am I right in thinking you can have a duty Solicitor (if that's the correct term) at the Station? Or does this need to be arranged beforehand?

Centurion07

10,381 posts

246 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
benm3evo said:
Hi,

I came home today to find a note through my door from the Police. They asked me to email/call them do discuss something.

I called as soon as I could & spoke to the PC (a very pleasant chap). He advised me that they had received a complaint regarding a vehicle being driven in a 'careless manner' & they needed to follow it up.

He couldn't give me too many details over the phone but the car does match my car's details. The incident took place over a month ago so I can't recall anything about that day (where I might have gone etc) so I have no idea what this could be about.

I have arranged to go into the station next week where I'll be questioned & the details recorded.

I was hoping I may be able to get some useful advice or experiences please as I have no idea what to expect. During the brief phonecall the PC did re-assure me to say it's nothing to worry about, & it was not a major incident but obviously I am worried!

Thanks for any help.
Cheers.
If it's "nothing to worry about", why do they need you to come to the police station for a "chat"?

You'll find this thread will give two types of response; those from police officers saying it is indeed nothing to worry about, and those that say you should consult a solicitor beforehand.

Think about it; if they're going to the trouble of using their valuable time to have a "chat" with you, they're going to want a result. They are not there to help you out in this situation.


Edited by Centurion07 on Sunday 14th December 17:54

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
benm3evo said:
During the brief phonecall the PC did re-assure me to say it's nothing to worry about, & it was not a major incident but obviously I am worried!
yikes

Mk3Spitfire

2,921 posts

127 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
it could be absolutely nothing and a box ticking exercise. It could be a more serious issue. I would turn up and see what the score is. If it turns out you're going to be interviewed, consider a brief. It won't hurt. It may well be a busy PC following up on a possibly malicious complaint, that he doesn't rate highly, but has to bottom out.
If it's taken a month to get this far, I don't think you'll be facing the death penalty, but just be cautious.

benm3evo

Original Poster:

383 posts

180 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Centurion07 said:
Did you tell them the details don't match? If so, why are you still going?

Also, if it's "nothing to worry about", why do they need you to come to the police station for a "chat"?

You'll find this thread will give two types of response; those from police officers saying it is indeed nothing to worry about, and those that say you should consult a solicitor beforehand.

Think about it; if they're going to the trouble of using their valuable time to have a "chat" with you, they're going to want a result. They are not there to help you out in this situation.
They didn't go into details of the car other than to say it was a BMW. I have a BMW. They had found my details from the Car's reg.

Yes, when you put it like that....

Bigends

5,412 posts

127 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Dr Jekyll said:
benm3evo said:
During the brief phonecall the PC did re-assure me to say it's nothing to worry about, & it was not a major incident but obviously I am worried!
yikes
They have no right to say that - you could finish up in court depending how the chat/interview goes

benm3evo

Original Poster:

383 posts

180 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Forgot to say, the PC did say I wouldn't be under caution & could leave whenever I want....if that makes any difference!

Mk3Spitfire

2,921 posts

127 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Centurion07 said:
If it's "nothing to worry about", why do they need you to come to the police station for a "chat"?

You'll find this thread will give two types of response; those from police officers saying it is indeed nothing to worry about, and those that say you should consult a solicitor beforehand.

Think about it; if they're going to the trouble of using their valuable time to have a "chat" with you, they're going to want a result. They are not there to help you out in this situation.


Edited by Centurion07 on Sunday 14th December 17:54
Naive, immature advice.
PC's are given follow up calls on a daily basis which they HAVE to bottom out. That on its own means nothing. As above, wait until you know if you're going to be interviewed, then get a solicitor.

Cooperman

4,428 posts

249 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Contact a solicitor before doing anything else in respect of this.
The solicitor will be able to call the old bill and find out what this is about.
Then only do as your solicitor advises.
If the police are contacted directly by a solicitor they may well decide to take the matter no further.

Centurion07

10,381 posts

246 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
singlecoil said:
Centurion07 said:
benm3evo said:
Hi,

I came home today to find a note through my door from the Police. They asked me to email/call them do discuss something.

I called as soon as I could & spoke to the PC (a very pleasant chap). He advised me that they had received a complaint regarding a vehicle being driven in a 'careless manner' & they needed to follow it up.

He couldn't give me too many details over the phone but the car does match my car's details. The incident took place over a month ago so I can't recall anything about that day (where I might have gone etc) so I have no idea what this could be about.

I have arranged to go into the station next week where I'll be questioned & the details recorded.

I was hoping I may be able to get some useful advice or experiences please as I have no idea what to expect. During the brief phonecall the PC did re-assure me to say it's nothing to worry about, & it was not a major incident but obviously I am worried!

Thanks for any help.
Cheers.
Did you tell them the details don't match? If so, why are you still going?

Also, if it's "nothing to worry about", why do they need you to come to the police station for a "chat"?

You'll find this thread will give two types of response; those from police officers saying it is indeed nothing to worry about, and those that say you should consult a solicitor beforehand.

Think about it; if they're going to the trouble of using their valuable time to have a "chat" with you, they're going to want a result. They are not there to help you out in this situation.
confused
Dammitt. You caught me before my edit. For some reason I read it as DOESN'T match. Probably because there's no point in mentioning that they DO match. boxedin

Eclassy

1,201 posts

121 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
benm3evo said:
Solicitor...so am I right in thinking you can have a duty Solicitor (if that's the correct term) at the Station? Or does this need to be arranged beforehand?
This is correct. You should be provided with a solicitor but as a friend found out, requesting one had him in the slammer for almost half a day. You can call the PC back and let him know you'll be needing a solicitor present. As some of these officers dont take too kindly to people that know their rights, such a request may change his attitude towards you.

I would suggest you search Google for "duty solicitor" and speak to one of the accredited ones on there to meet up and attend the station with you on the day.

Mk3Spitfire

2,921 posts

127 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Eclassy said:
This is correct. You should be provided with a solicitor but as a friend found out, requesting one had him in the slammer for almost half a day. You can call the PC back and let him know you'll be needing a solicitor present. As some of these officers dont take too kindly to people that know their rights, such a request may change his attitude towards you.

I would suggest you search Google for "duty solicitor" and speak to one of the accredited ones on there to meet up and attend the station with you on the day.
One bit of independent, impartial advice to OP:

Ignore anythjng Eclassy says.

Mk3Spitfire

2,921 posts

127 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Bigends said:
They have no right to say that - you could finish up in court depending how the chat/interview goes
Or...the OIC knows a lot more about the case than you do, is fully aware that it's going nowhere and he's just ticking boxes, and genuinely doesn't want the OP to worry?

Centurion07

10,381 posts

246 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Mk3Spitfire said:
Centurion07 said:
If it's "nothing to worry about", why do they need you to come to the police station for a "chat"?

You'll find this thread will give two types of response; those from police officers saying it is indeed nothing to worry about, and those that say you should consult a solicitor beforehand.

Think about it; if they're going to the trouble of using their valuable time to have a "chat" with you, they're going to want a result. They are not there to help you out in this situation.


Edited by Centurion07 on Sunday 14th December 17:54
Naive, immature advice.
PC's are given follow up calls on a daily basis which they HAVE to bottom out. That on its own means nothing. As above, wait until you know if you're going to be interviewed, then get a solicitor.
Not really. Better to have at least consulted a legal professional and not need their advice than not consult and need it, surely?

Anyways, if it is just what you're suggesting, why does OP need to go to the station?


Edited by Centurion07 on Sunday 14th December 18:10

benm3evo

Original Poster:

383 posts

180 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies so far.

I keep thinking that I shouldn't be worrying as I'm 99.9% sure I haven't done anything 'careless'. The worst I can think of is I've over-taken someone & they didn't like it but I can't even recall anything like this.

I've certainly got some thinking to do if not worrying! All comments have been taken on board so thanks again.