Witness not wanting to give evidence
Discussion
I have a friend who works in a slightly rough pub. Or at least a not-too-bar pub with a rough public bar!
He was a main witness to a fight in the public bar where a nasty piece of work briefly knocked out someone.
Turns out the said aggressor is currently on parole from prison, but the victim is a pi$$head who won't press charges.
The landlord barred the fella and called the police, but they didn't attend at the time 'cos the blokes had scarpered.
Landlord has now told my pal he has passed his number to the police for them to chase up.
He doesn't want to get involved, although knows exactly what he saw.
IF the police bother chasing up (?!) can he just tell them he doesn't want to give them any detail because he does not want to have his name anywhere near the known-nasty aggressor?
I can't see any problem with that, but thought I'd check the PH hive-mind for any suggestions!
He was a main witness to a fight in the public bar where a nasty piece of work briefly knocked out someone.
Turns out the said aggressor is currently on parole from prison, but the victim is a pi$$head who won't press charges.
The landlord barred the fella and called the police, but they didn't attend at the time 'cos the blokes had scarpered.
Landlord has now told my pal he has passed his number to the police for them to chase up.
He doesn't want to get involved, although knows exactly what he saw.
IF the police bother chasing up (?!) can he just tell them he doesn't want to give them any detail because he does not want to have his name anywhere near the known-nasty aggressor?
I can't see any problem with that, but thought I'd check the PH hive-mind for any suggestions!
This 'press charges' rubbish is spewed out all the time quoting from TV, usually from the USA.
In the UK, it's up to the police / CPS to decide whether to prosecute or not. But if the victim is uncooperative, and any witnesses too, they may not bother because conviction is unlikely.
In the UK, it's up to the police / CPS to decide whether to prosecute or not. But if the victim is uncooperative, and any witnesses too, they may not bother because conviction is unlikely.
Edited by V8fan on Tuesday 11th February 13:43
V8fan said:
This 'press charges' rubbish is spewed out all the time quoting from TV, usually from the USA.
In the UK, it's up to the police / CPS to decide whether to prosecute or not. But if the victim is uncooperative, and any witnesses too, they may not bother because conviction is unlikely.
Not entirely sure where you got that from. I was assaulted a while ago and although not injured, was asked by the police officer if I wanted to press charges. If I had said no that would have been the end of it. In the UK, it's up to the police / CPS to decide whether to prosecute or not. But if the victim is uncooperative, and any witnesses too, they may not bother because conviction is unlikely.
Edited by V8fan on Tuesday 11th February 13:43
kestral said:
tommoooo said:
Just say he didn't see anything?
No. That would make him a liar as well as a coward.He's not a coward, he just doesn't want to be looking over his shoulder every time he goes out in his home town.
Are the Police going to give him protection from this nasty bully?
I think not.
V8fan said:
This 'press charges' rubbish is spewed out all the time quoting from TV, usually from the USA.
In the UK, it's up to the police / CPS to decide whether to prosecute or not. But if the victim is uncooperative, and any witnesses too, they may not bother because conviction is unlikely.
Caroline Flack is being prosecuted even though the alleged victim says he does not want to 'press charges'(which as you say does not exist accept on TV).In the UK, it's up to the police / CPS to decide whether to prosecute or not. But if the victim is uncooperative, and any witnesses too, they may not bother because conviction is unlikely.
Edited by V8fan on Tuesday 11th February 13:43
It's becoming more common regardless of what the victim wants. Esp with domestics.
The police should record a crime if one is confirmed but when the victim says they’re not interested in assisting the police the crime will be closed off with no further action. Different for a domestic as explained above for Flack as there is a safeguarding issue usually for someone who can’t get away from an abuser and with or without a statement it can end up in court.
A falling out in a bar with a victim who won’t assist will be closed off.
If police do call or visit your friend all they have to say is they don’t want to be involved. The officers won’t judge them and that’s the end of it.
Maybe different if a serious injury was sustained.
A falling out in a bar with a victim who won’t assist will be closed off.
If police do call or visit your friend all they have to say is they don’t want to be involved. The officers won’t judge them and that’s the end of it.
Maybe different if a serious injury was sustained.
Trevor555 said:
kestral said:
tommoooo said:
Just say he didn't see anything?
No. That would make him a liar as well as a coward.He's not a coward, he just doesn't want to be looking over his shoulder every time he goes out in his home town.
Are the Police going to give him protection from this nasty bully?
I think not.
Fatball said:
The police should record a crime if one is confirmed but when the victim says they’re not interested in assisting the police the crime will be closed off with no further action. Different for a domestic as explained above for Flack as there is a safeguarding issue usually for someone who can’t get away from an abuser and with or without a statement it can end up in court.
A falling out in a bar with a victim who won’t assist will be closed off.
If police do call or visit your friend all they have to say is they don’t want to be involved. The officers won’t judge them and that’s the end of it.
Maybe different if a serious injury was sustained.
This was kind of the advice I gave him.A falling out in a bar with a victim who won’t assist will be closed off.
If police do call or visit your friend all they have to say is they don’t want to be involved. The officers won’t judge them and that’s the end of it.
Maybe different if a serious injury was sustained.
Thanks all for the comments/thoughts!
Trevor555 said:
Not everyone is a powerfully built Co director who can defend them selves from a nasty aggressor.
He's not a coward, he just doesn't want to be looking over his shoulder every time he goes out in his home town.
Are the Police going to give him protection from this nasty bully?
I think not.
It's a good job everyone does not think like that.He's not a coward, he just doesn't want to be looking over his shoulder every time he goes out in his home town.
Are the Police going to give him protection from this nasty bully?
I think not.
Criminals do not get convicted if people will not give evidence. The system collapses.
mikeiow said:
Precisely this. Doesn't want to be walking home at midnight in 6 months to find a knife-wielding nutter (or several) waiting for him!
He'd rather a knife wielding nutter be waiting for someone else? As long as he's alright right? Perfectly sums up 95% of the population of this country. Sounds like the guy is a ticking time bomb. Hope your mates conscience is clear when the guy 'goes off', in the near future. Judging by this show of character, I suspect it will be.
0ddball said:
He'd rather a knife wielding nutter be waiting for someone else? As long as he's alright right? Perfectly sums up 95% of the population of this country.
Sounds like the guy is a ticking time bomb. Hope your mates conscience is clear when the guy 'goes off', in the near future. Judging by this show of character, I suspect it will be.
My this forum is overflowing with big hard men tonight Sounds like the guy is a ticking time bomb. Hope your mates conscience is clear when the guy 'goes off', in the near future. Judging by this show of character, I suspect it will be.
He should just tell the cops that he doesn’t want to get involved. That will be accepted. To be fair, if the victim doesn’t want to know, I doubt cops will even follow it up- A victimless prosecution on this wouldn’t really work.
I work in that Industry and fully understand why people sometimes don’t want to support prosecutions.
I work in that Industry and fully understand why people sometimes don’t want to support prosecutions.
PH Irony 101
Thread 1 The police only want easy victims speeding etc and they let "Real" criminals go.
Thread 2 Let "Real" criminals go and ignore your civic duty just in case it causes grief despite no indication that it will.
If the assailant is really on parole then victim or witnesses not wanting to give evidence is not necessarily a barrier to returning them to prison,.
Thread 1 The police only want easy victims speeding etc and they let "Real" criminals go.
Thread 2 Let "Real" criminals go and ignore your civic duty just in case it causes grief despite no indication that it will.
If the assailant is really on parole then victim or witnesses not wanting to give evidence is not necessarily a barrier to returning them to prison,.
Edited by Graveworm on Tuesday 11th February 23:56
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