Police help- Do I have to give a statement?

[Deleted User]

Erm - why are you talking to the police at all?

If it's to do with the work you carried out at the address it is a CIVIL matter.

Anyone investigating that would be from Trading Standards.

If the police are investigating a crime there (or nearby) - whether or not you are a suspect or a witness - then unless they tell you why they are asking you questions you don;t have to answer any - leaving them with two choices.

Either to tell you why they want to speak to you and 'invite' you to attend the police station - whereby you attend voluntarily and can leave at any time - or they can arrest you whereupon you say nothing until your solicitor is present.

C_Ronaldo

As been said just make a statement of what you saw,

Lady_E

Just a gut feeling but I think the £20 short is nothing at all to do with the reason Old Bill want to speak to you. I would suggest her in the big house has been a victim of some offence e.g burglary , credit card fraud etc and as you were one of her tradesmen in her house, at the relevant times, then your details have been given to Old Bill. Guessing the cleaner and the gardener have been given a grilling as well. Dont fret, meet Old Bill let him say his introduction (he SHOULD reveal the nature of his enquiries )and take it from there.

bestyman

Thanks very much for all the replies.
I met plod and asked him if I was a witness or a suspect and he said that I was a witness.
A crime had been allegedly commited by the people arriving as I was leaving.
The very strange thing was that in my statement I had to put that I had not seen any offence take place - A statement to say that I had seen nothing!
I only have plods word on what he says is fact and it still seems a bit strage to me.
My statement went into minor detail as to why i was there, price of job, nature of job etc etc , in fact 2 full a4 pages. Why it could not simply say I was there from xxx to xx working and didnt see a crime." I will never know.

Anyhow, still got my suspicions but looks like its over now.

ben500

bestyman wrote: »

Thanks very much for all the replies.
I met plod and asked him if I was a witness or a suspect and he said that I was a witness.
A crime had been allegedly commited by the people arriving as I was leaving.
The very strange thing was that in my statement I had to put that I had not seen any offence take place - A statement to say that I had seen nothing!
I only have plods word on what he says is fact and it still seems a bit strage to me.
My statement went into minor detail as to why i was there, price of job, nature of job etc etc , in fact 2 full a4 pages. Why it could not simply say I was there from xxx to xx working and didnt see a crime." I will never know.

Anyhow, still got my suspicions but looks like its over now.

Glad it all seems to have turned out ok for you, I'm sure you would have been fretting had you not attended and putting yourself under unnecessary stress.

changkra

Too many Ploddys out there have attitude problems, i know a couple personally. If you phone the station you should actually be able to arrange your own time to do the statement to suit you with being self employed and seeing as you are doing them a favour. Ask to speak to the duty inspector and bypass the support workers. I think they usually work 8 -4 pm with changeover between 4 + 5 pm with the next shift starting at 5pm. You could also mention his attitude.

changkra

bestyman wrote: »

Thanks very much for all the replies.
I met plod and asked him if I was a witness or a suspect and he said that I was a witness.
A crime had been allegedly commited by the people arriving as I was leaving.
The very strange thing was that in my statement I had to put that I had not seen any offence take place - A statement to say that I had seen nothing!
I only have plods word on what he says is fact and it still seems a bit strage to me.
My statement went into minor detail as to why i was there, price of job, nature of job etc etc , in fact 2 full a4 pages. Why it could not simply say I was there from xxx to xx working and didnt see a crime." I will never know.

Anyhow, still got my suspicions but looks like its over now.

Because it is a record of what you saw and can be used it court also if some more evidence turns up they may ask you about it, you may not know anything but that in itself could help them. You are actually an important witness or they wouldn't have wasted the time on your statement so be prepared if it goes to court to also have to give evidence. Also stating you ahdn't seen the crime take place is like swearing an oath so you are automatically eliminated for the investigation. Nothing to worry about.

clive_2

say nothing

longforgotten

I know you think you are a suspect but,if you were, would Mr Plod have phoned you in the first place, wouldn't he have turned up on your doorstep. A phone call just seems a bit informal, let's hoping anyway.

There seems to be too many Mr Plod's with attitude me thinks ! They know it's ok for them to dish it out because they are in a position to get away with it.