Why do Police not know the Law

Dinnie2006

Ok so going to change the locks on my Sons property this week..Other thread..Ex Girlfriend changed the locks..
After gaining Power of Attorney and Legal Advice as to how we can go about it..
As advised by solicitor, rang police to inform them of potential breach of the police as ( as expecting sons ex g/f to kick off ) They tried to say she has rights as a Common Law wife..that my son had given her a key..and had they ever lived there together..
Sorry state of affairs when i have to correct a serving Police officer of the Law in this country
No such thing as Common Law in this Counrty
Yes he gave her a key..then she changed the Locks and refused us any access ( even to collect post)
She has never contributed to any running of the House and has no tenancy agreement or occupancy order
Our Police force obviously have major training issues.

Naf

It's not the police's job to actually enforce civil law until a court order/warrant instructs them to. Their job is to keep the peace and prevent/investigate criminal matters.

Dinnie2006

My point exactly, breach of the peace is a police matter and i got all the above spouted at me...
.

geri1965_2

Dinnie2006 wrote: »

No such thing as Common Law in this Counrty

I'm pretty sure there is.

claire16c

Can you break into the house when she's at work? Them change the locks again? (No idea if that's legal or not but you would think so if its your own house??)

Carpi09

potential Breach of the Peace, like a theft is potentially going to happen in Tescos?

The police can't be everywhere because of a potential crime.

Enterprise_1701C

Just a thought - does that not make her a squatter? Squatting has now been outlawed in this country.

scooby088

geri1965 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure there is.

There is no such thing as common law wife/husband in this country, there are no rights to anything unless it's written down in a contract.

Cornucopia

geri1965 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure there is.

I think the OP means "Common Law spouse" - and is correct, there is no such concept in law, but it is widely believed that there is.

Skintski

scooby088 wrote: »

There is no such thing as common law wife/husband in this country, there are no rights to anything unless it's written down in a contract.

That's not strictly true either it seems. I've a friend still being dragged through court by his ex over their house because supposedly she's entitled to something as she contributed to their joint lifestyle despite the house being solely in his name.

hawk30

scooby088 wrote: »

There is no such thing as common law wife/husband in this country, there are no rights to anything unless it's written down in a contract.

I think geri was picking up on the fact that, whilst there is not such thing as a common law wife/husband, there is most certainly a common law.

And you don't need a contact to gain rights.