You couldn't make this up
Discussion
Not sure the follow up to this has made it across the UK after the initial story earlier in the week.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-476...
Following the tragic deaths of three teenagers in a crush at a hotel in Cookstown last week. The Police arrested the owner and another man on suspicion of corporate manslaughter. Following a police search of the owners house a bag of white powder was discovered in his laundry room.
The owner was further arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drug with intent to supply. He was later de-arrested a few hours later when the white substance in the laundry room turned out to be...
Yes you've guessed it, WASHING POWDER.
Clearly could it be a blatant police attempt to blacken the name of the owner, and yet the police despite the almighty cock up have refused to issue an apology.
What are the chances he takes a case against the police for trying to blacken his name when on bail for the original accusation of manslaughter.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-476...
Following the tragic deaths of three teenagers in a crush at a hotel in Cookstown last week. The Police arrested the owner and another man on suspicion of corporate manslaughter. Following a police search of the owners house a bag of white powder was discovered in his laundry room.
The owner was further arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drug with intent to supply. He was later de-arrested a few hours later when the white substance in the laundry room turned out to be...
Yes you've guessed it, WASHING POWDER.
Clearly could it be a blatant police attempt to blacken the name of the owner, and yet the police despite the almighty cock up have refused to issue an apology.
What are the chances he takes a case against the police for trying to blacken his name when on bail for the original accusation of manslaughter.
Edited by BlueHave on Thursday 21st March 22:34
Edited by BlueHave on Thursday 21st March 22:40
BlueHave said:
Following a police search of the owners house a bag of white powder was discovered in his laundry room.
The owner was further arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drug with intent to supply. He was later de-arrested a few hours later when the white substance in the laundry room turned out to be...
Yes you've guessed it, WASHING POWDER.
To be fair, there was a little bit more to it: "white powder in an unmarked, unbranded, clear plastic bag, surrounded by tin foil pieces.", and there's evidence, or claims, that soaps can give false-positive readings on field drug testing kits. Nevertheless, that doesn't exactly restore much confidence in the Police.The owner was further arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A drug with intent to supply. He was later de-arrested a few hours later when the white substance in the laundry room turned out to be...
Yes you've guessed it, WASHING POWDER.
Did the policeman have reasonable grounds to suspect an arrestable offence had been committed? If it's deemed it was, and it is subjective to the point would another person in that position think the same. Different if he had been arrested for a reportable offence. Doubt compensation would be given.
LarsG said:
Did the policeman have reasonable grounds to suspect an arrestable offence had been committed? If it's deemed it was, and it is subjective to the point would another person in that position think the same. Different if he had been arrested for a reportable offence. Doubt compensation would be given.
There is no such thing as as arrestable offence. See pace code gEarthdweller said:
I think the key is the suspicion
The suspicion proved to be false .. he was released
Seems lawful and reasonable to me based on snap bag of white powder
Would you rather they ignored it ?
Or took the word of the person whose house was being searched that it was washing powder ?
If they'd opened the bag then the smell would have made it quite clear it was washing powder. I'm sure they could have asked him what it was and then checked by sniffing from a safe distance.The suspicion proved to be false .. he was released
Seems lawful and reasonable to me based on snap bag of white powder
Would you rather they ignored it ?
Or took the word of the person whose house was being searched that it was washing powder ?
spookly said:
If they'd opened the bag then the smell would have made it quite clear it was washing powder. I'm sure they could have asked him what it was and then checked by sniffing from a safe distance.
Have a sniff and the white powder turns out to be fentanyl. Then all of a sudden you are very dead. Brilliant idea, start sniffing unidentified powder...
The question, as others have said, is whether there’s reasonable suspicion AT THE TIME the decisions were made.
BlueHave said:
Clearly could it be a blatant police attempt to blacken the name of the owner, and yet the police despite the almighty cock up have refused to issue an apology.
What are the chances he takes a case against the police for trying to blacken his name when on bail for the original accusation of manslaughter
I’d say the chances are pretty much zero and it’s a narrative you’re making up because you’ve added far too much weight on judging the event in hindsight. What are the chances he takes a case against the police for trying to blacken his name when on bail for the original accusation of manslaughter
The question, as others have said, is whether there’s reasonable suspicion AT THE TIME the decisions were made.
ED209 said:
spookly said:
If they'd opened the bag then the smell would have made it quite clear it was washing powder. I'm sure they could have asked him what it was and then checked by sniffing from a safe distance.
Have a sniff and the white powder turns out to be fentanyl. Then all of a sudden you are very dead. [And then tuun to the perp and make some witty comment about him going away for a looong time?]
spookly said:
Earthdweller said:
I think the key is the suspicion
The suspicion proved to be false .. he was released
Seems lawful and reasonable to me based on snap bag of white powder
Would you rather they ignored it ?
Or took the word of the person whose house was being searched that it was washing powder ?
If they'd opened the bag then the smell would have made it quite clear it was washing powder. I'm sure they could have asked him what it was and then checked by sniffing from a safe distance.The suspicion proved to be false .. he was released
Seems lawful and reasonable to me based on snap bag of white powder
Would you rather they ignored it ?
Or took the word of the person whose house was being searched that it was washing powder ?
Greendubber said:
Swampy1982 said:
why were they searching his house? how does the charge of corporate manslaughter necessitate the need to search an unconnected property?
I'm not being factious, just curious.
Probably paperwork in relation to the venue. I'm not being factious, just curious.
There could be other cases where home addresses of Directors of businesses have been searched in relation to alleged Corporate Manslaughter?
Searching a home of a Director fits with Section 18?
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/19/secti...
They would have needed a Search Warrant from a Magistrate for the search or have a tame Tax Inspector in tow?
Pothole said:
Swampy1982 said:
why were they searching his house? how does the charge of corporate manslaughter necessitate the need to search an unconnected property?
I'm not being factious, just curious.
Google section 18 of PACE (does that hold in NI, anyone?)I'm not being factious, just curious.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1989/1341/arti...
Greendubber said:
Brilliant, absolute comedy gold. What's a safe sniffing distance then, surely you can either sniff something or you can't?
Youve taken it out of context. No one is suggesting they should have snorted it. Just the smell from the bag should have made it clear it was just soap powder. Snowflakes are abundant on this forum..Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff