Discussion
Afternoon.
I'd appreciate some advice with regard to a letter I recently from the CPS.
I'll try and be brief in summary of the events leading up to the letter:
A few months ago, during the night, my scooter was stollen from outside my house. Having informed the police early the next morning they subsequently called back a couple hours later to let me know that not only had they recovered the scooter, but they'd nicked the two toe rags that had pinched it.
The PC dealing with the theft took my statement and kept me informed throughout. My last contact with him was on the 27th March informing me they were 're-interviewing the suspect regarding further evidence'. Since then nothing.
Then, a couple of days ago I receive a letter from the CPS, dated 29th April, informing me they're stopping the case. The reason, and I quote directly:
'This is because you did not attend the trial which was listed to be heard on 24th April 2015 at Wimbledon Magistrates Court. When I spoke to you on the telephone you told me that you had forgotten the date of the trial due to a family bereavement. I asked the court if the trial could be heard on another date. The Court did not agree. Unfortunately, without your evidence at Court this case could not be proven. I had no option other than to offer no evidence to all the charges. The case was dismissed'.
I am, quite simply, gob smacked.
First off the charge was for driving offences, not theft. How can that be? The police seemed to put some effort into the case as they knew the suspects and they had previous for all sorts of offences.
The most shocking part though is the absolute b
ks about me forgetting the date of the trial due to a family bereavement. Its entirely false. I've never been contacted, I certainly wouldn't forget a court date, or make up some excuse about a death in the family. Is this normal, could it be an error?
It's a staggering waste of resources and police time, not to mention completely fraudulent. In my limited dealings with the police over the years, all theft / mugging related, they've been courteous and professional, always keeping me up to date etc. What sort of message does this send out to the scum that thieve all over London when the CPS can't even be arsed to do its job properly.
I realise scooter theft is low down the list of priorities but lying about why a case is stopped can't be right.
P
I'd appreciate some advice with regard to a letter I recently from the CPS.
I'll try and be brief in summary of the events leading up to the letter:
A few months ago, during the night, my scooter was stollen from outside my house. Having informed the police early the next morning they subsequently called back a couple hours later to let me know that not only had they recovered the scooter, but they'd nicked the two toe rags that had pinched it.
The PC dealing with the theft took my statement and kept me informed throughout. My last contact with him was on the 27th March informing me they were 're-interviewing the suspect regarding further evidence'. Since then nothing.
Then, a couple of days ago I receive a letter from the CPS, dated 29th April, informing me they're stopping the case. The reason, and I quote directly:
'This is because you did not attend the trial which was listed to be heard on 24th April 2015 at Wimbledon Magistrates Court. When I spoke to you on the telephone you told me that you had forgotten the date of the trial due to a family bereavement. I asked the court if the trial could be heard on another date. The Court did not agree. Unfortunately, without your evidence at Court this case could not be proven. I had no option other than to offer no evidence to all the charges. The case was dismissed'.
I am, quite simply, gob smacked.
First off the charge was for driving offences, not theft. How can that be? The police seemed to put some effort into the case as they knew the suspects and they had previous for all sorts of offences.
The most shocking part though is the absolute b
ks about me forgetting the date of the trial due to a family bereavement. Its entirely false. I've never been contacted, I certainly wouldn't forget a court date, or make up some excuse about a death in the family. Is this normal, could it be an error?It's a staggering waste of resources and police time, not to mention completely fraudulent. In my limited dealings with the police over the years, all theft / mugging related, they've been courteous and professional, always keeping me up to date etc. What sort of message does this send out to the scum that thieve all over London when the CPS can't even be arsed to do its job properly.
I realise scooter theft is low down the list of priorities but lying about why a case is stopped can't be right.
P
allergictocheese said:
Here's a scenario to run by you. Police officer is supposed to tell you attendance required. Doesn't. CPS ask Police why you didn't turn up. Police who forgot to tell you invent load of bks. You get letter with load of old bks on it.
Why would the PC be responsible for telling him the details of the trial?ks. You get letter with load of old bks on it. allergictocheese said:
Here's a scenario to run by you. Police officer is supposed to tell you attendance required. Doesn't. CPS ask Police why you didn't turn up. Police who forgot to tell you invent load of bks. You get letter with load of old bks on it.
Excellent, it's all the Police's fault, again, as always. ks. You get letter with load of old bks on it. Next!
allergictocheese said:
Here's a scenario to run by you. Police officer is supposed to tell you attendance required. Doesn't. CPS ask Police why you didn't turn up. Police who forgot to tell you invent load of bks. You get letter with load of old bks on it.
The force's criminal justice department or witness contact unit should have been in touch with the victim. It's not the responsibility of the officer once the case has left their hands as the CPS are supposed to take charge of the prosecution and the witness contact staff should be making arrangements to update the victim. ks. You get letter with load of old bks on it. I would try and get to the bottom of why they were under the impression you weren't coming due to bereavement. It's no wonder criminals walk free, the courts seem to have a great deal of sympathy for them and often seem to quite resent the victim (hence dropping the case immediately, even if they believed you couldn't attend due to bereavement).
allergictocheese said:
Here's a scenario to run by you. Police officer is supposed to tell you attendance required. Doesn't. CPS ask Police why you didn't turn up. Police who forgot to tell you invent load of bks. You get letter with load of old bks on it.
Didn't take long for the blame the police postsks. You get letter with load of old bks on it. allergictocheese said:
Here's a scenario to run by you. Police officer is supposed to tell you attendance required. Doesn't. CPS ask Police why you didn't turn up. Police who forgot to tell you invent load of bks. You get letter with load of old bks on it.
Next time you want to invent a scenario try it with a subject you know something about rather than making things up as you go along.ks. You get letter with load of old bks on it. allergictocheese said:
Here's a scenario to run by you. Police officer is supposed to tell you attendance required. Doesn't. CPS ask Police why you didn't turn up. Police who forgot to tell you invent load of bks. You get letter with load of old bks on it.
Epic fail once again.ks. You get letter with load of old bks on it. Did you get stopped for speeding once?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've seen the CPS and Police cock things up by leaning on one another to invent stories first hand. Had the pleasure of debunking their wild stories in front of crown court judges.
There will always be blurring of lines and buck passing to prevent blame landing in anyone's desk.
There are loads of great Police officers and loads of great CPS staff working in awful conditions with too few resources. As with any walk of life there are also lazy and incompetent people prepared to do whatever it takes to avoid doing a good job.
That one link in the chain has broken down doesn't preclude other ones from having broken down at the same time.
There will always be blurring of lines and buck passing to prevent blame landing in anyone's desk.
There are loads of great Police officers and loads of great CPS staff working in awful conditions with too few resources. As with any walk of life there are also lazy and incompetent people prepared to do whatever it takes to avoid doing a good job.
That one link in the chain has broken down doesn't preclude other ones from having broken down at the same time.
allergictocheese said:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've seen the CPS and Police cock things up by leaning on one another to invent stories first hand. Had the pleasure of debunking their wild stories in front of crown court judges.
There will always be blurring of lines and buck passing to prevent blame landing in anyone's desk.
There are loads of great Police officers and loads of great CPS staff working in awful conditions with too few resources. As with any walk of life there are also lazy and incompetent people prepared to do whatever it takes to avoid doing a good job.
That one link in the chain has broken down doesn't preclude other ones from having broken down at the same time.
If you're so experienced then you know that telling the I/P when to attend court isn't down to the police....There will always be blurring of lines and buck passing to prevent blame landing in anyone's desk.
There are loads of great Police officers and loads of great CPS staff working in awful conditions with too few resources. As with any walk of life there are also lazy and incompetent people prepared to do whatever it takes to avoid doing a good job.
That one link in the chain has broken down doesn't preclude other ones from having broken down at the same time.
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