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Legal advise dealing with police

Garethgrew
Garethgrew Posts: 190 Forumite
edited 17 December 2015 pm31 6:54PM in MoneySaving mums
Not sure where to post this, but to cut a long story short....

We have to go to the police st again tomorrow because the school told them that we smack our kids as part of discipline.........

We have had social services around several times now.

As far as I can see the law is its ok to smack with a hand on appropriate occasions, but the cane is not allowed anymore?

My parent generation used the cane, which didn't do them any harm.

Anyway the police say we should bring a solicitor I haven't got a clue where to look for one, can anybody give us a suggestion? Can we get legal aid?


It's all a wate of time, it will not take long to see we are not abusing or beating our kids.

Still worried all the same, I mean what's the worst that could happen? They won't really take our kids away will they?

Shall we give a no comment interview just to be on the safe side? I don't trust the police, they don't care about the truth they just want you to say something they can use against you. They just care about their careers and doing wel on paper, make their promotion come sooner.
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Comments

  • tomtontom
    tomtontom Posts: 7,929 Forumite
    The police do not interview under caution for fun. They must have some level of legitimate concerns for it to get to this stage. You can find a solicitor by Googling criminal law and the town where you live, or ask the police to contact the duty solicitor to attend the interview.
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You ARE abusing your children.
    Causing physical hurt is abuse.


    Your parents showed you it was okay, so you do it now.


    If you aren't stopped, then you are showing your children it is okay and they will do it to their children.


    Ad infinitum.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • http://www.safenetwork.org.uk/training_and_awareness/pages/smacking.aspx

    The Crown Prosecution Service Charging Standard, means that hitting a child hard enough to leave visible bruising, grazes, scratches, minor swellings or cuts, now constitutes the criminal offence of actual bodily harm. This carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

    Anybody else using physical force to punish or discipline a child may be accused of physical abuse and is committing a criminal offence.

    This includes:
    slapping
    smacking
    tapping
    punching
    hitting with any object (including shoes, rulers and cooking utensils)
    twisting ears
    pinching
    burning
    scalding
    causing pain and discomfort by making children sit or stand in uncomfortable positions for long periods, and many other behaviours.
    --
    So, NO you can't 'smack' your child/children and 'get away with it'.
    There's no smoke without fire.
    This is why social services are involved, and why the police are going to caution you.

    FYI They AREN'T "looking for their next promotion" or "to do well on paper". There's a kilo of paperwork that they have to go through before calling you in for the interview.
    just in case you need to know:
    HWTHMBO - He Who Thinks He Must Be Obeyed (gained a promotion, we got Civil Partnered Thank you Steinfeld and Keidan)
    DS#1 - my twenty-five-year old son
    DS#2 - my twenty -one son
  • just in case you need to know:
    HWTHMBO - He Who Thinks He Must Be Obeyed (gained a promotion, we got Civil Partnered Thank you Steinfeld and Keidan)
    DS#1 - my twenty-five-year old son
    DS#2 - my twenty -one son
  • thorsoak
    thorsoak Posts: 7,166 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you are in Scotland or NI, then it is actually illegal to physically chastise your child.

    How many children do you have, what are their ages, and why have you not listened to Social Services when they have tried to advise you? Or do you know best, as your parents did?
  • Prison are you serous?
  • tomtontom
    tomtontom Posts: 7,929 Forumite
    Garethgrew wrote: »
    Prison are you serous?

    Not such a waste of time now?
  • thorsoak
    thorsoak Posts: 7,166 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Garethgrew wrote: »
    Not sure where to post this, but to cut a long story short....

    We have to go to the police st again tomorrow because the school told them that we smack our kids as part of discipline.........

    We have had social services around several times now.

    As far as I can see the law is its ok to smack with a hand on appropriate occasions, but the cane is not allowed anymore?

    My parent generation used the cane, which didn't do them any harm.

    Anyway the police say we should bring a solicitor I haven't got a clue where to look for one, can anybody give us a suggestion? Can we get legal aid?


    It's all a wate of time, it will not take long to see we are not abusing or beating our kids.

    Still worried all the same, I mean what's the worst that could happen? They won't really take our kids away will they?

    Shall we give a no comment interview just to be on the safe side? I don't trust the police, they don't care about the truth they just want you to say something they can use against you. They just care about their careers and doing wel on paper, make their promotion come sooner.

    How old are you? Do you not read papers/watch tv? You use the internet, so you must realise that physical punishment is not acceptable - its not even acceptable for pets, let alone children!
  • Here is what to do legally.
    The police will caution you at the start of the interview, at / from this point you now have access to free solicitor representation and legal advice and not before.
    As soon as they read the caution you only words must be.
    I demand (do not not request) that a solicitor be provided.
    When they arrive demand the solicitor proves they are actually a solicitor and not a police legal advisor, you can refuse if they are a police advisor and demand a law society solicitor.
    Ask the solicitor to suspend the interview as you require legal advice.
    The solicitor now has access to the investigation notes and outline brief and can see where they are going and on what evidence and will advise you what to say at any future interview.

    If the police ignore the demand for a solicitor, answer all questions .
    "I am exercising my right to silence as I have been refused access to a solicitor"

    They will soon get fed up.
    You need legal advise from a solicitor, if you call one you have to pay, if you do as I said above one will be provided free.

    I can not advise you any further than this unfortunately.
    I do Contracts, all day every day.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Garethgrew wrote: »
    We have to go to the police st again tomorrow because the school told them that we smack our kids as part of discipline.........

    We have had social services around several times now.

    You've had social services round several times and already had the police involved and still haven't worked out that what you think is an reasonable method of chastisement for your children isn't acceptable in this country? :(
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