Police rules?

Mojisola

aileth wrote: »

Yesterday I am washing up in the kitchen, when I go in the living room to see two Policemen who had unlocked our back gate (It's a really stiff lock and we thought could only be opened from inside which is worrying) and were poking through our bins and shrubbery.

One of them may have come over the fence and unlocked the gate from the inside.

peachyprice

aileth wrote: »

Well you see I'm trying to knock off my husband for life insurance so give his cupcakes a little 'extra'....

And you wonder why they were looking in your bins

Errata

I think your gate has a gate fastener, not a lock, and now you know your gate isn't secure - so they've done you a favour.

aileth

Yes I have to say I think we will invest in a padlock. At least then if there's a next time they will knock on the door to ask for access and give me a minute appropriate myself. Or they might just Rambo over the fence.

peachyprice

Is it the kind if bolt you can put a padlock through? If it isn't, you need to get an additional fastener that you can or a yale lock.

StuC75

Dont make it too difficult though; as if they injure themselves getting over your fence you would likely be sued (thinking of the recent case of the police officer suing a petrol station for a wobbly kerb)..

aileth wrote: »

Yes I have to say I think we will invest in a padlock. At least then if there's a next time they will knock on the door to ask for access and give me a minute appropriate myself. Or they might just Rambo over the fence.

bitemebankers

StuC75 wrote: »

Dont make it too difficult though; as if they injure themselves getting over your fence you would likely be sued (thinking of the recent case of the police officer suing a petrol station for a wobbly kerb)..

Don't worry about it - if they're breaking in you can counter-sue for trespass.

aileth

Yep can put a padlock through it so think that might put my mind at ease. And heehee at making it too difficult, they turn up to do a search and there's an assault course of barbed wire and sand traps with the fabled bin at the end.

Ah well, it's good to take these things lightly. When they said they were looking for a long-handled kitchen knife, I almost went and fetched them one of mine and asked them what they wanted one for. I decided against it as handcuffs are not a good look.

Claree__x

Police - in Scotland at least - don't know thier own bloomin' laws! At the football last week someone was told that taking a photo of/recording a police officer was illegal and then had the phone taken from them and the photo/video deleted - now that's illegal.

I realise this is nothing to do with what you're saying, just wanted to rant a little!

dancingfairy

I don't know whether they can or not, but common courtesy would have been to knock on your door and let you know what they were doing.
Maybe write them a letter, let them know that you were concerend after the incident on x,y,z date but you were further concerend to find 2 police officers had apparently opened your lock on your gate and were in your garden. Point out that you would, of course happily co-operated but you would appreciate some common courtesy.
df