Police on the doorstep collecting a debt???

deejay_sleepy

Under what circumstances would the police come to the door asking for money? They just came looking for my housemate and all I got from it was that he had to pay them some money by tomorrow or he'd be arrested. I'm assuming they were collecting some sort of debt because I know he's in a lot of debt but why would they not just send bailiffs? Worrying.
I spoke to him first, checked his badge as he was in plain clothes, then my housemate went and spoke to him outside and refused to tell me anything.
While it may not directly be any of my business, as our finances are tied in together due to shared living arrangements I'd like to have an idea what's going on, especially if there's police turning up on the doorstep.

PasturesNew

If he's been in court and had to pay a fine or go to jail .... it's possible they were there to take either the money or him.

deejay_sleepy

That sounds possible. Bad craic. Mind you, surely they'd bring a van and uniforms, not just one plain clothes guy in a car.

Are there any other circumstances where they might do that?

TonyMMM

Police don't collect civil debts, or ordinary fines. But they can , and do enforce warrants from courts.

Most likely to be a committal warrant, probably for non payment of a fine, which means housemate needs to pay up or go to jail.

kaya

Probably non payment of court fines and he was the court warrant officer , although I have never heard of police collecting money before , maybe he meant go pay the court or I'll be back

Monkeyballs

Hi Op,

You mention he wasn't in uniform but showed you his ID... He didn't look like this did he?



MB of G

moxter

Police don't collect money. You might have overheard a conversation which made it sound like that though - they might have said "you didn't pay your fine, so here we are" - in other words enforcing a court warrant. But police never ever collect debts (or take money from people directly).

sourcrates

moxter wrote: »

Police don't collect money. You might have overheard a conversation which made it sound like that though - they might have said "you didn't pay your fine, so here we are" - in other words enforcing a court warrant. But police never ever collect debts (or take money from people directly).

Unless they are, erm, how can I put this, operating on the "wrong" side of the law, or someone has picked up a police ID at the local toy shop and is impersonating an officer, but no, my nephew is in the police, and there are no circumstances were the police would collect a civil debt from anyone, id be very wary.

Rrushi_Shqiptar

TonyMMM wrote: »

Police don't collect civil debts, or ordinary fines. But they can , and do enforce warrants from courts.

Most likely to be a committal warrant, probably for non payment of a fine, which means housemate needs to pay up or go to jail.

This is the only time they would come to the door, normally the warrant officer from the court, in plain clothes.

Though they would not take the money from you. They will be serving the warrant or arresting him/her to take before the court. Committal warrants are also no bail so if they come make sure its before the court closes or not at the weekend :eek:

If he comes again, ask for his warrant card, take down his/her warrant number and call the local station or 999 if u really are worried and check with the stn his credentials.

How do I know...... Retired Police officer now

Police never collect debts or fines.....yet

fromtheshires

When i worked on a warrants team for a short stint in my career, we had no bail warrants which could be paid to us to be forwarded onto the court and a receipt would be issued to the person on the doorstep for making the payment to us. Failing that they would be arrested under the warrant for non payment of fine. We were however in full uniform.

With regards to calling 999 to check and officers identity - bad practice and it is trying up an emergency line for a genuine emergency. Call the local force from your phone book or dial 101. Any genuine officer will be happy to wait whilst you check.

Rrushi_Shqiptar

fromtheshires wrote: »

When i worked on a warrants team for a short stint in my career, we had no bail warrants which could be paid to us to be forwarded onto the court and a receipt would be issued to the person on the doorstep for making the payment to us. Failing that they would be arrested under the warrant for non payment of fine. We were however in full uniform.

With regards to calling 999 to check and officers identity - bad practice and it is trying up an emergency line for a genuine emergency. Call the local force from your phone book or dial 101. Any genuine officer will be happy to wait whilst you check.

Bad practice I think not. If you suspect the person at the door is impersonating a police officer then u call 999 of course if they are willing to wait while u call 101 in front of them fine.