Wrongly Accused of Fly Tipping - Help!

morpheusfire

Hi All,

I'm new to this place so please go easy on me!

The situation is this:

Got a letter from the council earlier this week asking me to come into the police station to have an interview under caution regarding a fly-tipping incident.

In a nutshell, someone left a dismantled wardrobe and desk at the rubbish point, I left a small box from Amazon alongside my rubbish at the normal collection point but (stupidly) forgot to remove the address label.

Normally the bin men collect cardboard boxes if they are small and I'm sure they would have done on this occasion had they not been irritated by the wood from the actual fly tippers, but they then took a photo of my box on the wood and reported my details to the council.

A further complication is that the rubbish collection point changed from the side to the front of my apartment block. Everyone still leaves rubbish at the old collection point, I have photographic and video evidence to prove this. Aside from this incident the rubbish men have had no complaints in the last 2 months about the point of collection.

I've provided everything I can to the council but they still want to interview me. They say some new evidence has come to light - I have no idea what this is as I haven't done anything wrong! I asked them to disclose but they want to see "How I respond in the interview."

I told them I would like the evidence up front but they are yet to respond. I get the feeling they want to trip me up. I'm pretty sure I can present my case to them and just make the point that I'm only there to discuss facts.

I'm just worried that a couple of Jobsworths are going to get me a criminal record! Can anyone help?!

Thanks.

Lou67

EEEEEEK! Don't worry too much! If you are innocent (and I know you are ) then just go into the interview and explain what happened, telling them EXACTLY what you have said here.

May be a good idea to take someone with you: either someone from the CAB or a solicitor. Tell them you refuse to be interviewed without someone with you. Your box with the address on being dumped on a fly tip doesn't go in your favour, but just be honest. Good luck. xxx

sinbad182

Take a solicitor with you if you're that worried?

It sounds like pretty spurious stuff - the council are probably hoping to scare you into an easy conviction which will make it look like they're 'cracking down' on fly tipping.

Turning up with a brief will no doubt rip apart this silly scenario.

hcb42

if you were guilty there is no way you would have dumped a box with your address on it.....

scary that they are going to these lengths, but just stand your ground, there is no evidence you did anything wrong!

olly300

When you are interviewed they may decide to charge you and try and make you accept a caution - no matter how much time it takes and how much hassle they give you refuse this caution and insist on being taken to court.

They will pressure you to accept the caution stating that a court will find you guilty - however if you have evidence to throw enough doubt on their claims do not accept the caution.

Accepting a caution will muck up your job prospects for years to come.

jamie11

olly300 wrote: »

Accepting a caution will muck up your job prospects for years to come.

I'm genuinely puzzled...........why should it? Does it have to be declared?

phill99

I wouldn't even go to the police station. They are inviting you for a discussion under caution.. There is no obligation at all for you to attend.

hcb42

jamie11 wrote: »

I'm genuinely puzzled...........why should it? Does it have to be declared?

whatever you do, do not accept anything under caution.

My hubby got caught with this for something he never did years ago, I think he thought he was getting a simple telling off i.e. "never do this..."we paid the price when it came up as a caution on a police check.

morpheusfire

hcb42 wrote: »

whatever you do, do not accept anything under caution.

My hubby got caught with this for something he never did years ago, I think he thought he was getting a simple telling off i.e. "never do this..."we paid the price when it came up as a caution on a police check.

Hi HCB42,

When you say don't accept anything under caution do you mean don't go to the interview under caution or don't accept a caution?

I've prepared about 10 photos, a host of e-mails and 2 videos of me giving details of the area and incident.

Frankly I'll sit there, present all I have, ask if they have any questions in relation to what I presented and then close the interview and tell them I intend to leave.

Am I being too bullish?

jamie11

morpheusfire wrote: »

Hi HCB42,

When you say don't accept anything under caution do you mean don't go to the interview under caution or don't accept a caution?

I've prepared about 10 photos, a host of e-mails and 2 videos of me giving details of the area and incident.

Frankly I'll sit there, present all I have, ask if they have any questions in relation to what I presented and then close the interview and tell them I intend to leave.

Am I being too bullish?

It's a threat innit, they're saying either accept a caution or they will take it further (to court). But they have no real evidence by the sound of it so probably the best thing would be to say that you would only attend an interview like this if you were under arrest and had to.

I'm not au fait with this sort of thing but I doubt the council actually have those powers of arrest.

I may be wrong of course so I'm happy to be corrected if I am.

hcb42

morpheusfire wrote: »

Hi HCB42,

When you say don't accept anything under caution do you mean don't go to the interview under caution or don't accept a caution?

I've prepared about 10 photos, a host of e-mails and 2 videos of me giving details of the area and incident.

Frankly I'll sit there, present all I have, ask if they have any questions in relation to what I presented and then close the interview and tell them I intend to leave.

Am I being too bullish?

dont accept a caution

you didnt do anything, you have nothing to admit to. Frankly it seems incredible they are even pursuing this on such flimsy evidence.