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Advice needed please - Interview with police on Tuesday

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Comments

  • cathryn107
    cathryn107 Posts: 95 Forumite
    The police are not exactly the most trustworthy organisation.

    I think the attitude of the police towards the public was best summed up by the Met's Head of Homicide and Serious Crime who wrote an article in the Guardian on April 15th which referred to innocent people as "those who are yet to be convicted of an offence" !
  • cathryn107
    cathryn107 Posts: 95 Forumite
    Try to derail the investigation as much as possible.

    I wouldn't do anything to 'derail' the investigation. However I'd use all official channels I could to complain about the police and employer's behaviour. I would hit them with a complaint to the IPCC alleging wrongful arrest, and start consulting employment experts on the way your employer has behaved. Dragging you in before a group of people and trying to browbeat a confession out of you (sounds like they went for the 'good cop, bad cop' routine'!). 'Confess now and we can help you' - er, how exactly???
  • Scaredy_Cat_3
    Scaredy_Cat_3 Posts: 2,812 Forumite
    I've been reading this thread with interest and just wanted to pop in to sympathise and to wish you luck.

    I think it's awful that an innocent person can be arrested and then, even if proved to be completely innocent later, that arrest will hamper this person in getting work and in being able to go on holiday.

    I know the care industry is a bit fraught at the moment, and probably with good reason - but that's no excuse to treat people as guilty until proven innocent.

    I don't know if a union would be able to help, but have you tried the T&G? As far as I know they will take on people in just about any profession, so it may be worth approaching them. Also, as people have said, you need to get proper legal advice as it looks like the system is proceeding as the company and the police want it to, but you are on your own.
  • maninthestreet
    maninthestreet Posts: 16,127 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    sexyeyes83 wrote: »
    Hi,

    I was called up earlier on and asked to attend work for a meeting. When I attended the MD was there with his wife, along with my two managers.

    He said the police had spoken to him and he wanted to know what happened. I said if the police had already spoken to him I dont particularly want to go over it all again.

    He then asked me again what happened during the calls I attended, bear in mind ive already gone over it twice with work now. He then said "I find it very hard to believe that you have gone in both calls and nothing happened" He then asked me over and over again if I was guilty.

    He then said "What will you do when the police find you guilty? When they find you guilty you'll be up for a disciplinary".

    I said they wont find me guilty because ive done nothing wrong.

    He then sent his wife out of the room and one of the managers and said "This is your time to tell me the truth. If you dont tell me the truth I cant help you"

    At the end he gave me two letters, one dated the 29th April outlining the allegations and that im suspended on full pay, and then a second letter dated the 5th May which he said he was going to post to me, but might as well give it to me now.

    Part of the letter said
    "The purpose of this meeting is to give you the opportunity to provide an explanation for the following matters of concern - The two allegations"

    "I would stress that this is not a disciplinary hearing, as per company procedure, you have the right to be accompanied by either a work colleague or an official representative."

    Its bad enough waiting for the police to get back in touch, let alone work calling me down and grilling me and treating me as if im guilty. The letter said that there would be more meetings taking place at regular intervals during my suspension.

    The police don't find someone guilty - only a court can do that.
    Your employer is pre-judging the outcome of the police investigation, and harassing you.
    "You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"
  • sexyeyes83
    sexyeyes83 Posts: 184 Forumite
    Hi,

    Thank you all again for your advice, it really is appreciated.

    I popped down to the CAB today, however they wasnt really much help. They couldnt answer many questions and just gave me some print outs from the Acas website.

    Ive now contacted an employment lawyer and ive got a meeting booked for Monday. I had to explain the circumstances to his receptionist and she was quite shocked about the way the company are handling things.
  • cathryn107
    cathryn107 Posts: 95 Forumite
    edited 8 May 2009 at 3:41PM
    There's an interesting case in today's newspapers about a teacher who voluntarily attended an interview and was arrested despite the protestations of his solicitor. The police have now conceeded that the arrest was unlawful.

    http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2009/05/08/teacher-matthew-wren-wins-historic-ruling-over-his-dna-61634-23572117/

    Edited to add: the solicitor forum you posted in as well as this initially stated they couldn't give professional advice. You might not be aware that your case and its legal implications are now causing quite an argument over there!
  • fatou256
    fatou256 Posts: 1,289 Forumite
    The police are conducting a criminal investigation. They arent going to risk that just because you continually harass them. You need to wait til tuesday and see what exactly is said.

    The fact that the police are investigating again suggests they have some evidence.

    Secondly people criticising the employer clearly have never worked in the care industry. an extremely serious allegation has been made and it would be inevitable the company has to suspend etc.

    As for your husband taking the time off. what exactly is the point unless its to look after dependents. He will only get in the way at the police station etc.

    You'd do yourself a big favour if you stopped harassing the police officer. He may be far more difficult to deal with otherwise.



    not very true i used to work as a carer in the community... one of my colleague was arrestd interview under caution because one service user reported him to his boss for alleging stealing a ruler and apencil ! after 2 month of investigstion it became clear that the allegation were made with no evidence and was only made because the service user didnt like his carer !

    i wil lnever work in care anymore h i have seen to many abuse going from the service user and the company doing nothing to protect the carer at all ! i was assaluted by one of them my boss did nothing (never bother d to call the police about it) but if he had made an allegation i woudl have been interview under caution..... ther is serious issues that employer are to eager to ignore
    BSC number 183
  • surreysaver
    surreysaver Posts: 4,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I suppose you could assert your right to remain silent, apart from demanding they de-arrest you and destroy your personal information. Tell them you'll co-operate if they do this.
    I consider myself to be a male feminist. Is that allowed?
  • ian_w_4
    ian_w_4 Posts: 80 Forumite
    Hope it all works out for you, I'm in a 'legal situation' being sued at the moment and I know how powerless I feel, relying on Solicitors to act in my best interest whilst everyone else seems to be out to take you for all it's worth.

    Regarding the US travel, I was arrested and cautioned (not convicted) years ago but have been to, and worked in the USA several times since. Never done anything out of the ordinary, just filled in the usual Visa waiver forms on the plane and nobody has batted an eyelid. Even when pulled aside and interviewed on entry (asking about the employment contract aspect) nobody asked or mentioned anything about previous arrests. So I wouldn't get too worried about your holidays once this is all over with.
  • sexyeyes83
    sexyeyes83 Posts: 184 Forumite
    Thanks everyone. Havent posted anything else as there have been no more updates until today.

    I got a phone call from working asking me to attend a meeting at 1230 on Thursday, however its not at my local place of work, its 60 miles away.

    I asked why cant it be held at my local office where all other meetings have taken place and was told "It just cant"

    Ive phoned acas, however they wasnt really very helpful.

    Is this right that they can call me down to their headoffice that is 60 miles away for the meeting when all other meetings have been at my local office? Its the local office thats shown as my place of employment on my contract.
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