Police let me down

siren13577

I really feel for you, I was harassed and intimidated and eventually driven out of my home by a group of youths, I knew their names, gave descriptions on several occasions, they were known to the police and neighbours saw them vandalising my car so badly it was scrapped, spray painting my house, trying to break my windows with bricks and threatening to burn my house down with my two year old and I in it. I feel completely let down, like a prisoner in my home and parts of the house were off limits to me, my kitchen was at the front of the house and all the advice the police could give was to wet my curtains and keep a bucket of water at hand. It all came to a head and we made ourselves homeless because we couldn't do anything without being terrified, my family wouldn't come and visit me or would stay outside by their cars.

When I went into the police station to get the crime numbers the main ringleader was there, having been stopped by the police in Warrington and told to present himself at the police station as there was a warrant for his arrest, nothing to do with the harassment as far as was concerned. At the police station the officers were great and called me into the room to look 'at my stolen property' because of the intimidation at the hands of this lad, he was about 17. I really felt let down, I had evidence, witnesses and still nothing was done. During the attacks the police took ages to arrive but when a stolen car was found in front of someone's house they were there in minutes, with a tow truck to take it away.

I'd like to say karma will catch up with people like this but I'm not sure. To the OP I hope you do make a formal complaint, the only way things get better are if people complain and draw the police force's attention to these kind of things. My sister works as a trainer for the police and urged me to make a formal complaint but I didn't have the strength or heart for it but now I wish I had.
Good luck!

PBA

Dealmad wrote: »

my neighbour had also called the Police as he heard them kicking my door and shouting abuse and he saw them on my property.

From what you're saying here, there isn't actually any evidence for the Police to use. If nobody actually saw the crime being committed then there's no way a court would find them guilty, and the Police can only caution them if they've admitted the crime. Your neighbour seeing them on your property doesn't prove that they kicked your door in.

You should still be able to sue them for the damage to the door, as there isn't as much proof required in a civil court as there is in criminal court.

Voyager2002

Dealmad, the decision as to whether or not to proceed with a prosecution is made by the Crown Prosecution Service. Ask the police (one of the helpful officers you mentioned) for the name of the CPS official who dealt with your case, and write to that person politely questioning their decision.

You should also write to your MP, with a copy of your letter to the CPS.

If you choose to involve the press, don't give the names of the perpetrators. A press photograph of you with your broken door, together with the fact that you and a neighbour witnessed the attack and that you recognised one of the attackers, yet the police took no action, should encourage the CPS to do something. If you say any more, or if any more gets printed, then that could seriously prejudice any later court proceedings.

alwaysonthego_2

Quote the 'Harrassment Act 1997' to the police. I have put a link up so it will explain it further for you http://www.yourrights.org.uk/your-rights/chapters/the-right-to-privacy/harassment,-unwanted-letters-and-telephone-calls/index.shtml

Dealmad

Thanks for everyones positive feedback and advice , after talks with the Police i have found they did actually give them a written harassment warning , but like Voyager says it was up to the Crown Prosecution Service to find if they had enough evidence to prosecute or not and they found there was not.

But I'm now happy to find out at least the Police have done something and was some confusion as i thought they just got a telling off and got released.

The Police have actually been really good and understanding , my faith is restored in the Police

missile

I would suggest on this occasion your faith is misplaced. I would not feel so enthusiastic about the boys in blue and they might be nice to you now to avoid you making a formal complaint. The police do have a duty to inform victims of crime and at the very least they failed to do that?

Ultimately it is the CPS who decide whether to prosecute, but I would suggest they are fobbing you off with an easy excuse. More often than not CPS decision is based on a recomendation from the police ...........

Maybe the police are too busy chasing up illegal donations to the labour party?

sarahg1969

OP, I can sympathise entirely.

My son's car was smashed to bits by a young "gentleman" in the early hours of the morning, back in June. Within 8 hours, we'd had phone calls saying who it was, backed up by text messages from this thug. We immediately called the police, asking them to do something urgently, as it was likely he was injured while carrying out his good work.

The officer in charge of the case was off work, unfortunately, and the matter could not be passed on to anyone else.

It took numerous telephone calls and letters before the police finally went out to him SIX WEEKS AND TWO DAYS LATER, to ask him if he'd done it. Just to ask him if he'd done it. That's all.

He said no (of course), so they could do nothing more, apparently.

They also confirmed that the little so-and-so already had a previous caution for an identical attack some months previous.

My faith in police (what little I had) has not been helped by this little incident.

siren13577

I'm glad you have the result you wanted and feel the police have taken sufficient action. Good luck for the future and I hope you don't have any problems with this man. Is it too early to wish everyone Happy Christmas?

borosteve_2

Just a thought, if they've received and accepted a caution then surely a small claims court action to recover damages would be (almost) guaranteed? That might make a dent in their Sky and cigarette money for Christmas:D

Whatever happens DON'T let any relatives, friends etc try and "finish it" on your behalf (as has been recommended, probably jokingly, by some other posters). The police, courts and government may not give a whatsit about you or your property but vigilanteeism (sp) can't be seen to work.

Good luck whatever you decide.

edthedead

As some people have rightly pointed out the decision about what happens to suspects is entirely down to the Crown Prosceution Service.

The system has changed quite recently and works as follows (in theory!):

The police arrest the suspect

Statements are taken from the victim and any witnesses

Police interview the suspect

Police gather any other evidence (cctv etc)


A custody Sgt then decides if the case needs to go to the CPS (depends on the offence and also if the person can get a caution or Fixed Penalty).

If it does need to got to cps Police present all this to the CPS lawyer at the Police station (or over the fax/phone out of hours) who then deceides what, if any, charges should be made.


Unfortunately for victims the first option considered is always a caution or fixed penalty notice but as stated above they suspect has to admit the offence in order to get one of these.

In short, it is unfair to blame the Police - blame the CPS instead!!