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

clairehi

Daisy, this is your anxiety talking and you have got this out of all proportions. As others have explained, you will not be in any trouble for what you have done.

I suggest you get your mum or a trusted friend to be with you while you phone the police non-emergency number to find out whether this was a genuine call or not. Or ask them to go with you to the police station.This is the only way you will get to the bottom of it.

However your reaction to this tells me you are not well and something else is bound to come along soon for you to worry about instead. Are you being treated for the anxiety? If not you need to go to your GP and talk to them about how it is affecting your life. They can refer you for counselling/CBT to help you deal with it, and/or antidepressants. The drugs are not addictive and very effective.

Best wishes.

DaisyMaee

I decided to contact a lawyer on a free website to see their opinion on it. A couple said it was nothing to worry about and I hadn't broken the law but one said that it didn't sound like a scam and that they were probably investigating something serious given the fact that whatever it was happened four years ago, and that I could be charged with obstruction of justice or giving a false statement. This is what scares me about going to speak to the police, because if it was real I could be charged with that, unless they believed that I didnt mean to lie and that I thought it was a scam. Still don't know what to do really.

DaisyMaee

clairehi wrote: »

Daisy, this is your anxiety talking and you have got this out of all proportions. As others have explained, you will not be in any trouble for what you have done.

I suggest you get your mum or a trusted friend to be with you while you phone the police non-emergency number to find out whether this was a genuine call or not. Or ask them to go with you to the police station.This is the only way you will get to the bottom of it.

However your reaction to this tells me you are not well and something else is bound to come along soon for you to worry about instead. Are you being treated for the anxiety? If not you need to go to your GP and talk to them about how it is affecting your life. They can refer you for counselling/CBT to help you deal with it, and/or antidepressants. The drugs are not addictive and very effective.

Best wishes.

I am on beta blockers for the anxiety, I have been since I was fourteen

DaisyMaee

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

OP, this is really you getting worried for nothing.

You had no way of knowing whether it was actually a police officer to whom you spoke, or not.

So anything you declined to say is entirely your business.

If you want to drop into your local nick, or phone their proper number to check up on it, do so. But I really wouldn't be worrying about this!

Thank you for being so understanding:) this is what I am going to tell them if they come back but I am scared that they will think I lied because I'm guilty of something (which I'm not) it's a no win situation really because if I do go to speak to them and it turns out to be real I might look like I am handing my self in and admitting to the crime or whatever they are investigating when actually I don't know what any of this is about

neverdespairgirl

It's not a no-win situation, honestly.

If you went to them now, and said it all seemed a bit odd at the time (which it did) and you didn't know for sure to whom you were speaking (which you didn't) but that you wanted to follow it up now in case it had been a police issue (which is true) I can't see there being any problem at all.

CustardAndPickles

DaisyMaee wrote: »

I decided to contact a lawyer on a free website to see their opinion on it. A couple said it was nothing to worry about and I hadn't broken the law but one said that it didn't sound like a scam and that they were probably investigating something serious given the fact that whatever it was happened four years ago, and that I could be charged with obstruction of justice or giving a false statement. This is what scares me about going to speak to the police, because if it was real I could be charged with that, unless they believed that I didnt mean to lie and that I thought it was a scam. Still don't know what to do really.

Advice from a "lawyer" on a free website will be not be free.
It's either: a - not a lawyer or b - drumming up business.

The first two probably weren't lawyers, and the second one who told you that you'd be in trouble was just looking for work (no doubt he'd have shortly offered to represent you).

I spoke to a law enforcement friend who advised simply calling 101 which will put you through to your local police force. Ask to speak to the officer in question. Explain that you got a note through your door, you returned the call but got worried because the note seemed fake, and you were ringing to see if it was genuine or not.

If it turns out the note was genuine, explain that you were concerned and you'd like to clarify what you said. If it turns out the note wasnt genuine (ie the police officer has no idea what you're on about), then you can warn them about it in case it happens to others.

Chances of you being "done" for anything - virtually nil. You haven't given any sworn reply and you weren't under caution. You have a reasonable excuse (I got a random note, I wasn't sure who I was talking to). Might be different if you've thrown a massive murder investigation out of wack, but given it was a note and a phone call, my friend reckons it wasn't anything vital and you were probably being asked in order to try and locate someone else / owner of discovered property.

LittleBoots

Well all the many many posters and two 'lawyers' who have told you its nothing to worry about are totally irrelevant as one online lawyer has said otherwise.

You wanna PM me your name and I will phone on your behalf???

MarilynMonroe_2

'' and that I could be charged with obstruction of justice or giving a false statement.''
Whaaaat? Who was this bozo lawyer?

ailuro2

Not read the full thread, but has anyone pointed out if it really was the police they'd have had access to the list of original neighbours, and can also easily check how long you've lived there for...they're the police after all!

Anyone can Google their local police force and choose a real detective's name.

I'd not worry any longer, if they really needed you then surely they would have come back and asked you for information face to face?

clairehi

DaisyMaee wrote: »

I am on beta blockers for the anxiety, I have been since I was fourteen

Please go back to the doctor and explain how you are feeling so they can see what more help they can offer you. You really don't have to live with these levels of anxiety. I speak as a fellow sufferer, and it is exhausting living with worries like these. GPs are very understanding about anxiety these days, it is really common and there is lots of help out there.