Police not returning property
Discussion
Hi all,
I had a moment of madness last August after an argument with someone, caused damage to their property, got arrested and charged.
Charge was dealt with at court two months ago. At the time of my arrest I had my phone taken from me as I had sent messages alluding to the committed crime.
I have been trying for two months (case was dealt with at magistrates court on 4th Feb this year) to get the phone returned. Completely understand why it was taken from me and that it isn’t a priority for the police to give it back but is there anything I can do? Been through 10/20 phone calls/emails and constantly told it will be sorted out and nothing happens. Surely once a case has been dealt with the property can be returned? I don’t expect it delivered to me on a velvet cushion but would like it back as it hadn’t been backed up in a while and has some precious photos of kids etc (not the fault of the police that that’s the case of course). I’d just like someone to tell me I can go and pick it up from somewhere!
Am I on a hiding to nothing to try and get it back?!
Cheers,
Rob
I had a moment of madness last August after an argument with someone, caused damage to their property, got arrested and charged.
Charge was dealt with at court two months ago. At the time of my arrest I had my phone taken from me as I had sent messages alluding to the committed crime.
I have been trying for two months (case was dealt with at magistrates court on 4th Feb this year) to get the phone returned. Completely understand why it was taken from me and that it isn’t a priority for the police to give it back but is there anything I can do? Been through 10/20 phone calls/emails and constantly told it will be sorted out and nothing happens. Surely once a case has been dealt with the property can be returned? I don’t expect it delivered to me on a velvet cushion but would like it back as it hadn’t been backed up in a while and has some precious photos of kids etc (not the fault of the police that that’s the case of course). I’d just like someone to tell me I can go and pick it up from somewhere!
Am I on a hiding to nothing to try and get it back?!
Cheers,
Rob
If there is no reason to dispose of it (i.e its not a knife etc) then you should get it back
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/secti...
complain to the PCC?
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/secti...
complain to the PCC?
Mojooo said:
Heathwood said:
2 months to return a phone is pretty poor. I agree that a complaint is the right way to go. This needs to be to the relevant force, not the PCC.
each force has its own PCC...?Contact the PC (or sergeant) who dealt with your case. Their name/number should be on some of your paperwork but call 101 if not, and they should be able to give you an email address or phone extension number. The case officer should send through a request to the property department who will make contact with you to arrange a time for you to collect any seized property from the front desk after signing some one or two forms.
Give the right people a nudge and it'll get things moving.
Give the right people a nudge and it'll get things moving.
Thanks all.
The original officer in charge is apparently now on the long term sick so it was handed over to someone else.
I did lodge a complaint this morning. I fully appreciate that it isn’t a priority for the police and it was originally taken with good reason, no issue with that at all, and I don’t want to be one to waste police time over a phone…just feel like I should be able to get it back as the charge has been settled for 8 weeks.
I thought it would be as simple as an officer signing a letter that it could be released and then signing a letter to tell me where I could collect it, but appreciate it might not be that straightforward.
Cheers everyone.
The original officer in charge is apparently now on the long term sick so it was handed over to someone else.
I did lodge a complaint this morning. I fully appreciate that it isn’t a priority for the police and it was originally taken with good reason, no issue with that at all, and I don’t want to be one to waste police time over a phone…just feel like I should be able to get it back as the charge has been settled for 8 weeks.
I thought it would be as simple as an officer signing a letter that it could be released and then signing a letter to tell me where I could collect it, but appreciate it might not be that straightforward.
Cheers everyone.
robsav said:
Thanks all.
The original officer in charge is apparently now on the long term sick so it was handed over to someone else.
I did lodge a complaint this morning. I fully appreciate that it isn’t a priority for the police and it was originally taken with good reason, no issue with that at all, and I don’t want to be one to waste police time over a phone…just feel like I should be able to get it back as the charge has been settled for 8 weeks.
I thought it would be as simple as an officer signing a letter that it could be released and then signing a letter to tell me where I could collect it, but appreciate it might not be that straightforward.
Cheers everyone.
It is that simple but if the officer is off on LTS then that'll be why it's not been done. The original officer in charge is apparently now on the long term sick so it was handed over to someone else.
I did lodge a complaint this morning. I fully appreciate that it isn’t a priority for the police and it was originally taken with good reason, no issue with that at all, and I don’t want to be one to waste police time over a phone…just feel like I should be able to get it back as the charge has been settled for 8 weeks.
I thought it would be as simple as an officer signing a letter that it could be released and then signing a letter to tell me where I could collect it, but appreciate it might not be that straightforward.
Cheers everyone.
Hopefully it'll be sorted and the new officer can simply get it released. We just have to press a button on a screen for the property store to generate a letter to the owner to arrange collection.
Which force is it out of interest?
Greendubber said:
It is that simple but if the officer is off on LTS then that'll be why it's not been done.
Hopefully it'll be sorted and the new officer can simply get it released. We just have to press a button on a screen for the property store to generate a letter to the owner to arrange collection.
Which force is it out of interest?
South Yorkshire.Hopefully it'll be sorted and the new officer can simply get it released. We just have to press a button on a screen for the property store to generate a letter to the owner to arrange collection.
Which force is it out of interest?
sutoka said:
Unless you've hit him with the phone or they've discovered illegal stuff like animal or underage material then there no reason why you shouldn't have got it back.
God no, nothing like that at all, it was taken as I had sent messages to the victim alluding to what I had done. It was all admitted at interview, everything printed off…never used as a weapon and absolutely no inappropriate or illegal material on it.
Accept either one of the following:
1. Not getting it back and buying a new phone.
2. A load of headaches and effort chasing people for months if not longer.
3. Hire an experienced local solicitor, with experience in policing matters, and come down on them with a more high handed approach, and make a point about it.
1. Not getting it back and buying a new phone.
2. A load of headaches and effort chasing people for months if not longer.
3. Hire an experienced local solicitor, with experience in policing matters, and come down on them with a more high handed approach, and make a point about it.
MrBogSmith said:
Xenobian said:
Accept either one of the following:
1. Not getting it back and buying a new phone.
2. A load of headaches and effort chasing people for months if not longer.
3. Hire an experienced local solicitor, with experience in policing matters, and come down on them with a more high handed approach, and make a point about it.
Or just make a complaint and see what happens. 1. Not getting it back and buying a new phone.
2. A load of headaches and effort chasing people for months if not longer.
3. Hire an experienced local solicitor, with experience in policing matters, and come down on them with a more high handed approach, and make a point about it.
Xenobian said:
Accept either one of the following:
1. Not getting it back and buying a new phone.
2. A load of headaches and effort chasing people for months if not longer.
3. Hire an experienced local solicitor, with experience in policing matters, and come down on them with a more high handed approach, and make a point about it.
I bought a new phone months ago.1. Not getting it back and buying a new phone.
2. A load of headaches and effort chasing people for months if not longer.
3. Hire an experienced local solicitor, with experience in policing matters, and come down on them with a more high handed approach, and make a point about it.
I understand and accept why it was taken from me, and I have no problem with it not being a high priority issue for the police, but the case is done and dusted, why should it be withheld? There is no reason for it to be withheld and it’s as much a matter of principle to me now as anything else, surely it just needs someone to write a letter and a couple of signatures here and there?!
I have a decent solicitor but that would cost me more than what the property is worth so if that was my only option then what’s the point?
As much as it’s me that did wrong, and I pay the price for that, I feel it’s a bit of a piss take, that’s all.
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