What does the police want/expect me to do in this situation?

CATS

Hi All,

I have few questions that I am hoping someone can help me with or give me an opinion. Long post coming so I apologise in advance.

Yesterday my son had his bike taken from him at the park by 2 boys. Everyone knew who these boys were and eventually we found the home of one of them and went there to talk to the parents who were not in.

As we could not speak to anyone, we called the police whilst outside the boys address, by now we knew who both of the boys were. Police arrived, same time as the parents. We then found out that the boy was out on bail :eek: was well known to the police and has a lot of previous. The parents called the boy who said he was on his way, the police told us to go back home and they will come and take a statement.

Anyway, the boy was arrested, the police came and took statement and asked if we would go to court, now I explained that I wasn't sure and that my priority was to get the bike back as it is a very expensive BMX bike and as neither me nor my son or husband have ever been involved with the police or the courts, we would need to discuss this and make a decision.
They said the police will be in touch today to let me know what happens. I asked that they contact me not my son. They called him!! I then had to call back to speak to them.

Now this is where my questions start.
So I asked - have the boys been arrested, have you found the bike, have they admited it?
Police says yes, yes, and yes,
I say great so what happens now?
Police say well its a long process, do you want to go to court?
I say well I need to discuss this with my son as I am concerned about his safety, the disruption to his live and having to drag him through the court process. My insticts say dont even think about dragging the poor boy throuh this process for a bike!! which I would have replaced anyway.

So I say well am not sure what happens if we do and what happens if we dont, and how does he get his bike back?
Police say, well he will get his bike back after the court (which can take forvever me thinks :mad:) or he drops it he can have it back.
So I say well if he was to go through the courts what happens? what is the process?
He says well I still have to inteview the boys and we have to prove that they took it and he didnt lent it to them because that's what they might say- Well DUH!!

So I say well we are all new to this is there someone that can come and talk to us about it?
He says well you can talk to your son and I will call at 2pm to see.
I say ok, so do we have to make a decision then?
He says you dont have to make a decision on anything as I still have to arrest one boy and interview them- OK Confused here now

So I say ok so if we go to court what is the likelyhood of them being punished?
He says well you called us, our job as the police is to come and arrest them and then for the courts to punish them so anything can happen really, they can go to a young offenders institute, put in care, but as they are young, same as your son anything can happen. - A slap in the wrists me thing

I am concerned about his safety I say, and the disruption to my son and having to drag him through the courts. Well if you say that you think it will be disruptive for his exams etc then I can accept that but if you just say you cant be bothered then we can push it to go through courts anyway he says.

Anyway, I am so confused as to what to do?
Should I just drop it and get his bike back and get on with it?
Do I take it to court? it seems a bit OTT for me and with their record I am sure they will be arrested on something else anyway
My son was not hurt and he is my priority.

Has anyone ever been through this process? I am not sure what the police want from me or what I am expected to do next. I just want the bike back and for his life to go on as normal. I am really sorry but they were not helpful and I so confused here, he almost made me feel guilty for even considering not taking it to court. Any opinions anecdotes anyone that might help?

Thanks

j.e.j.

If the boy's already got previous he won't be in the least bit daunted about it going to court.

The law is so lenient (especially with young criminals) that if you can't PROVE that they stole the bike, and his solicitor was able to cast doubt on your son's story he'd probably get off scot-free.

I'd just tell the Police you want the bike back, tbh.

ilovelondontown

The fact that the boy was out on bail makes it sound to me that the police are keen to take it further because it means he's broken the rules of his bail and will get further into the system if he isn't already.

Would I push it to the Courts? Probably not over a bike. It'll be noticed on his file and from the sounds of it he'll be back in court sooner or later anyway.

It just depends on your personal feelings about taking it further now?

19lottie82

How old is your son and the boys involved?

Do you know what their "previous" is for?

TBH I doubt the police care too much about this, it really won't be high up on their list of priorities. Do what you think is best for your son.

spacey2012

They can summons you to court to give evidence on oath against the suspect, they just prefer to offer you the opportunity to volunteer it.
This comes with calling the police.

aileth

Agree with above, it really won't be worth going to court and obviously the little scr*te has no respect of the law so won't be bothered that he's going to court again. Also, if his parents are as big a scr*tes as he is, they might make your life a living hell if you press charges. Get the bike back and avoid them like the plague.

19lottie82

My friend had her flat broken in to by a couple of 15 year olds (she caught them in the act). The police were called and they were arrested.

She was told, that until they were of age, there was nothing really that could be done, apart from warnings, social workers etc

They would be no "serious" punishments at their age, no matter how many acts of robbery, vandalism etc they committed. To be sent to an YO institutions, they would have to commit a so called serious crime.

However, the policeman said he would bet all his worldly possessions that when the time came that these boys could legally be treated as adults, they would be locked up within 6 months.

As someone already posted, I doubt this will even reach court. I'd just say you want the bike back, and that's it.

CATS

Hi All,

So yes we were told that he def broke his bail condition, as I think he wasnt suposed to associate with the other boy. His parent apologised and asked the police to arrest him regardless as they cant cope with him any more. My son is 14 and so are they.
They have the bike, I just want it back, if we are made to go to court then we'll go but if its not necessary I dont see why I should make my boy go through it.
To be honest I am glad I called the police cause had I found them it would probably be me going to court for beating the c**p out of him

spacey2012

As this would be classed as robbery a custodial local authority sentence would be the normal option for youth offenders.
Whilst they are in there enjoying the beds screwed to the floor they wont be out looking for your lad.

19lottie82

spacey2012 wrote: »

As this would be classed as robbery a custodial local authority sentence would be the normal option for youth offenders.
Whilst they are in there enjoying the beds screwed to the floor they wont be out looking for your lad.

If they had used a weapon, maybe. But if not, I doubt it.

geoffky

Get the bike back and move on..
The reason i tell you this is because if it goes to court and he pleads not guilty then you and your son will be liable to be cross examined and the defense will get you all over the place....

Nothing is to be gained by you as now it is the state taking over..
Whether he gets a £1 fine or jail for it, has now been taken out of your hands and when you find out what he does get you will be amazed..
Drop it and move on...
If you are after punishment or revenge the youth courts are a place to stay away from.