Did I do the right thing? (Lied to the police)

Guest101

19lottie82 wrote: »

Marisco, it sounds reasonable to me?

Police often leave a calling card if no one is home. They are also unlikely to go in to details re an investigation over the phone, they prefer to talk face to face.

Of course, I'm not saying it definitely was the police, but I don't think you can say it definitely wasn't.

Back to the OP, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's done now, so don't stress. I'm sure they have better things to worry about.

19lottie82 wrote: »

What's unprofessional about it? Leaving a calling card, and trying to establish a few details before making an appointment for a further discussion?

Sounds normal to me.

It's very unprofessional, as this is a very obvious and known scam. The police should know better. (I'm not sayign that this was 100% a scam, i'm saying 100% such a scam exists).

How have the police identified themselves to the OP? Hello, I'm DC Plod? NO! Such enquires would be made by the neighbourhood policing team, they are well advertised, and would make such calls in person. And calling card would request a call to the police station.

So if this was the police, it is unprofessional.

But on topic to the OP's question:

Lying to the police, really is not a crime. Unless you were cautioned, or you have signed a witness statement, feel free to say what you like. I know someone will say, 'obstructing a police officer in the line of duty' - but where's the proof of what was said? it's all hearsay.


Now the question about this being the police is debateable, and in the future, if questioned just refuse to answer, its the phone. what if i called you?

Goldiegirl

Lying to the police is never a good idea, but I don't think it was the police you spoke to.

After 5 months, if the police really needed to speak to you, that would have got in touch with you again.

However, I think it would be public spirited of you to contact the police, to tell them what happened, so they are aware of any potential scams that are happening.

Voyager2002

No, you have not committed any kind of crime.

DaisyMaee

Thank you for the advice guys! I feel a little relieved that most other people agree that it seems iffy.

I really do want to go to the police station - but I have seen on lawyer websites that they advise never talking to the police even if you are innocent, because things can be used against you and they can twist your words which worries me.

I guess the main thing I am worried about is getting in to trouble for obstructing the course of justice, which can be a prisonsable offence - I assume that the phone call was recorded, however I am hoping that if it does come to that then I will be able to get a good lawyer to help them see my side of it.

I know I probably seem like I am over reacting but as I said before I do suffer with anxiety (clinically diagnosed and have been on medication for it for the past six years which will prove my point if need be).

I think I'm just going to wait and see if anything else happens and if they come back I will explain.. and if I get another note then I am going to take it to the police station as I threw the other one away a while ago. I guess it's reassuring to know that they didn't kick my door in though so whatever they're investigating cant be too bad! As I said before though I've definitely not committed any crime and my mum certainly hasn't.

Thanks again! x

19lottie82

DaisyMaee wrote: »

I really do want to go to the police station - but I have seen on lawyer websites that they advise never talking to the police even if you are innocent, because things can be used against you and they can twist your words which worries me.

That only applies if you are being interviewed after being detained or arrested.

richardvc

Surely if it was that important (and not a scam) they would have contacted you again.

It all sounds very dodgy to me !

Let sleeping dogs lie.

19lottie82

Guest101 wrote: »

How have the police identified themselves to the OP? Hello, I'm DC Plod? NO! Such enquires would be made by the neighbourhood policing team, they are well advertised, and would make such calls in person. And calling card would request a call to the police station.

The card had a name on it. The OP googled this name and confirmed that it was an officer.

Maybe the OP did call the police station. Could have been a direct dial number (extension) hence why it didn't show up as the main police station number.

I've had a card left by the police before and the situation sounds very similar to that of the OP's. Nothing sounds particularly suspicious. I've never heard of a Neighbourhood Policing Team in my area.

duchy

It probably is a scam -but there are some other scenarios -like for example if they came across some property that had your details on it (could be something as simple as a lost purse or bank card) that was found in the home of a thief -if they had other evidence they may not have followed up and you were just another piece of the puzzle.

For your own peace of mind -as it is still worrying you months later -call the station and make an appointment to see the local community police officer. If it is scam -you could help someone else-and if it isn't they won't have needed your input anyway or they'd have got back in touch.

paulineb_2

There are community police officers in my area and if the OP has had issues with anti social issues in her neighbourhood, they could have been calling about that.

Tbh OP, you arent going to get anyone who is really going to make your mind up about whether yes you did the right thing or no you didnt.

You made the decision and as no one has been in touch with you since, I dont think its that urgent.

However, there might be a time where the police want or need to speak to you in the future and rather than put yourself through all these agonies, maybe it would be better just to track down the officer concerned and find out what the issue was about.

DaisyMaee

We actually had a visit from a PCSO a few weeks after the DC left a note but he didn't mention the DC. We had called the police (a few weeks after the DC left a note and after the telephone conversation with the DC) because the local teenagers were circling around the car whilst we were in it on their bikes and verbally abused me and my mum for no reason at all, then the same day we had eggs thrown at our garage door (we live on a corner so they can run away quickly which I think is why they do it). But yeah he didn't mention the DC and neither did the police on the non emergency number when I reported the devil children, so I think it is is a separate thing and it sounded quite serious as she asked me if I knew the previous occupants name or current address.

I'm assuming that she has tried or is in the process of tracking them down if it was actually the police but I think that it would be obvious after just a quick search that I have lived here for longer than I claimed to. I honestly don't make a habit of lieing but it was the circumstances that made me feel uncomfortable with the questions etc being asked and now I feel like a criminal. I would accept a caution for lieing but the thought of being arrested scares me to death..

I'm hoping that me and my mum have been eliminated from the investigation because she said herself it wasn't our names she had, though she didn't have a last name. It's all quite stressful tbh for me because of my anxiety but my mum isn't worried in the slightest lol.