council investergation - help needed

hanny83_2

I really don't see how they could tamper with the tapes? They are normal cassette tapes and to edit them would mess the whole of the tape up.

There should have been a Police And Criminal Evidence Act 1984 book on the table at the IUC, this governs the way people IUC'd are treated. If you have any doubt about the way you are treated in an Interview Under Caution you are more than welcome to read the book whilst you are being interviewed.

SkyWatcher_3

brightonman123 wrote: »

i cannot see why you cannot (openly) record a meeting yourself too.. who's to know someone may tamper with or 'lose' the council tapes, if what was said reflects badly on them.

('yes officer, i paid my rent.. and stop hitting me' etc!)

hope matters gets resolved asap.

As you can probably guess I have been involved in this line of work. If someone were to "openly" attempt to make their own recording then I would not proceed with the interview. These interviews are conducted in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. The Police would not allow you to make your own recording of an interview with them and the Council has the same rights. The recording made by the Council machine is sufficient and affords protection to both parties. The other option is for the interview to be conducted at a Police station while in custody.

As for tampering, the way the tapes are recorded means that there are security measures that would make it very difficult and one copy is sealed infront of the suspect with a paper label that the suspect signs. This can only be opened again in certain controlled conditions, for example if it is alleged that the working copy has been tampered with. This isn't just some tape deck, specialist equipment is used.

As for tapes getting lost - there are procedures for how tapes are kept and who has access and without the tape there is no real chance of the case proceeding at Court if the tape can't be produced by the prosecution.

I'm not sure why what is said would relect badly on the Council - they are questioning someone as they have grounds to suspect a criminal offence may have been committed - it isn't a chat about Benefits.

SkyWatcher_3

AnxiousMum wrote: »

Only one of the reasons to take a solicitor into the interview if you are interviewed under caution.

Although the main reason to take a solicitor is that an agency has reason to suspect that you may have committed an offence and are interviewing you as part of that investigation to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to take further action against you, which may include criminal prosecution.

ed123_2

;):mad:;):mad::p:money:....I had a couple of them from the DWP a few years ago doing a spot check at my place(nothing dodgy on mypart!!) I descided to record them.....after a a while they noticed the recorder..and said what is that...a recorder I replied....they said they had to phone their supervisor...got the ok and finished the interview with the recorder on....:beer::j:mad::money::rotfl::T:A:cool:

hanny83_2

ed123 wrote: »

;):mad:;):mad::p:money:....I had a couple of them from the DWP a few years ago doing a spot check at my place(nothing dodgy on mypart!!) I descided to record them.....after a a while they noticed the recorder..and said what is that...a recorder I replied....they said they had to phone their supervisor...got the ok and finished the interview with the recorder on....:beer::j:mad::money::rotfl::T:A:cool:

Was that an interview under caution or a compliance visit?

ed123_2

:j:confused::beer::p:money::cool::o:confused::beer::j:money::mad:....I don't know what it was, it was completely out of the blue, I was claiming jsa at the time. They rang up and I was'nt in ...they rang again and ask where was I....I said I was shopping at Sainsbury's....they asked if it took all day and why I was'nt looking for jobs....I produced 100's of adverts & rejection letters which seemed to satisfy them...:T:A:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::T:T:T:A:A

hanny83_2

Hmmm, dunno what that was! Doesn't sound like an interview under caution though. But then if you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to worry about

Pssst

Cant see the problem.
Its easy to tell the truth. It comes naturally.

ed123_2

.....I've done nothing wrong...re the truth any lawyer will tell you this can be bent by a lawyer in court. People who get benefit are not getting charity...it is our money...the clue is in the word national "insurance" ie insurance which you claim for when sick, disabled, unemployed etc. I have worked for 30+ years and estimate I have paid in £150,000 into the system.

hanny83_2

Oh no, call me naive but I assumed you would have told the truth, purely because you told the JCP the truth in that you were in Sainsburys but the "tell the truth and you've got nothing to worry about" comment was directed to the OP.