Voluntary Police interview-help needed.

Peterpan18

The aftermath of a messy end of a relationship for my daughter is again causing difficulties.

Her ex has made yet another complaint to the Police about an non existent incident in a local pub. The Police have asked that she, her partner and daughter in law attend a voluntary interview at the local Police station. All three have asked for a duty Solicitor to be present.

The Police have now told them there is no duty Solicitor available at the local station (its a town station 2 mile away) and they will have to go to the next town station 15 mile away if they want a duty Solicitor. Daughter in law will already have to travel over 20 mile to attend the original station so her travel will now be 35 mile trip one way.

My daughter is not able to work as a result of the relationship and is having to live on £70 ESA, she has no transport. She has explained this to the officer to be told to get a bus or Taxi.

I feel this is extremely unreasonable of the Police to adopt this attitude but we are aware that if they don't attend they can be arrested and interviewed.

So the questions is, can she refuse to go to the other station because the Police do not have a duty Solicitor at the original station? I would have thought that as it's a main station for the local area they should be able to supply a solicitor and if they cant it's not my daughters fault.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

onwards&upwards

Was it an abusive relationship?  If so contact women's aid for advice.  The police have a duty of care to victims of domestic abuse and should support her to be able to deal with the situation without causing further distress or harm.  

Although getting a bus doesn't seem too unreasonable if there is one that goes there?

sweetsand

Please ensure you have some kind of rep there it is important. Be concise promise yourself that. Stick to the facts.
IMO, as the other poster stated it is indeed not unreasonable to catch a bus or two.
I'm sure you can support her and if reuqired help her with the fares but I'm guess that as you said she was working she must have some savings.

ATM, please is not sure who is telling the truth etc and to be cooperative imo helps your case and keep clam

When she leave, ask what will happen next and approx time scales

Thanks

sweetsand

btw -  not all officers are rubbish like any profession most are quiet good, nice and caring but they have to find out the truth as people do lie and I'm not saying your daughter is if you see what I am saying
x

Peterpan18

onwards&upwards said:

Was it an abusive relationship?  If so contact women's aid for advice.  The police have a duty of care to victims of domestic abuse and should support her to be able to deal with the situation without causing further distress or harm.  

Although getting a bus doesn't seem too unreasonable if there is one that goes there?

Yes both Physically & Mentally, we have dealt with most of that even applied for Non Molestation Order that we were mislead by the Judge and agreed to an undertaking instead. We are back to court shortly to sort that out.

Meanwhile the ex and his new woman if anywhere in my daughters vicinity, do an excellent job of goading her & her family. He was doing this in a local pub last week so my daughter approached the door staff, explained the position, showed them the order and he was asked to leave.

We believe that he has made a complaint to the Police about something that night and as a result they want to interview 3 of the 5 people in my daughters party. They all say that besides getting a bit loud that night they did nothing wrong. This is how he operates and we need to convince the Police that we have had enough of his antics and use of the Police to harass my daughter and her family hence this time we want a duty Solicitor. We have also asked to see the sector Inspector about the whole situation.

My daughter has done nothing wrong at any time but she is the one being persecuted either by his solicitors or the Police, all on his say so and it has to stop.

I have told the Police I will be accompanying her as she is considered a vulnerable person and I have her medical records to prove this, she has already made one suicide attempt. We have to stop him pushing her over the edge again.

nicechap

Peterpan18 said:

The aftermath of a messy end of a relationship for my daughter is again causing difficulties.

Her ex has made yet another complaint to the Police about an non existent incident in a local pub. The Police have asked that she, her partner and daughter in law attend a voluntary interview at the local Police station. All three have asked for a duty Solicitor to be present.

The Police have now told them there is no duty Solicitor available at the local station (its a town station 2 mile away) and they will have to go to the next town station 15 mile away if they want a duty Solicitor. Daughter in law will already have to travel over 20 mile to attend the original station so her travel will now be 35 mile trip one way.

My daughter is not able to work as a result of the relationship and is having to live on £70 ESA, she has no transport. She has explained this to the officer to be told to get a bus or Taxi.

I feel this is extremely unreasonable of the Police to adopt this attitude but we are aware that if they don't attend they can be arrested and interviewed.

So the questions is, can she refuse to go to the other station because the Police do not have a duty Solicitor at the original station? I would have thought that as it's a main station for the local area they should be able to supply a solicitor and if they cant it's not my daughters fault.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

Everyone has choice, it's what the consequences of the choice are that matters.  If the ex has made a false allegation about a non-incident, surely your daughter would want to refute that and Perhaps use it as part of a Non-molesation/ harassment process?  Getting a bus when she isn't employed doesn't seem unreasonable, challenging and pushing back against a police investigation might lead police to read into her behaviour something she doesn't intend.

sweetsand

Dear OP
I've had a couple of other thoughts, but in summary the whole thing and easier said that done some of it.
Steer clear of the rubbish,
If you argue with dirt sadly no matter how innocent you are you too get covered in some dirt.
If they are lying, two lies never make a right and the police will find out, so stick to the truth
even though that may not be enough to get them to court as honesty does evetually pay.
As I said before, it's not ideal, but bus it and don't complain
Keep composed and not use any bad language no matter how upset.
Take in a duty sol for sure it's a must.
Try to avoid arguments for reasons stated above.
Try to coax your daughter to move on.
Don't forget people can get very, very nasty and lie like you've
never heard before so don't give the the chance.
Any harasment, etc, call 999, 101 which ever is appropriate try not to argue.
I hope it goes well and your daughter is soon over this the
more you avoid these people even if it means going out of
your way, the better it will be for your daughter and your family.

x

Peterpan18

Thank you everyone for your contributions. They have helped reduce my anger and frustration and put my feet back on the ground.

It just seems so unfair and wrong, my daughter and her family are having to go through all this.

On a positive note, he has no truthful grounds for a complaint so we can add this situation to the list in our contempt of court application.

sweetsand

You seem to be a nice person and I'm sure you'll use the best bits from the thread to guide you and your daughter.
I hope it all goes as well as it can and good luck to all.

Comms69

Peterpan18 said:

The aftermath of a messy end of a relationship for my daughter is again causing difficulties.

Her ex has made yet another complaint to the Police about an non existent incident in a local pub. The Police have asked that she, her partner and daughter in law attend a voluntary interview at the local Police station. All three have asked for a duty Solicitor to be present. - Very sensible! 

The Police have now told them there is no duty Solicitor available at the local station (its a town station 2 mile away) and they will have to go to the next town station 15 mile away if they want a duty Solicitor. - It's their job to ensure there is a duty available. Tough. But for avoidance of conflict, just go 15 miles away - i mean technically it should be 3 solicitors.  Daughter in law will already have to travel over 20 mile to attend the original station so her travel will now be 35 mile trip one way. 

My daughter is not able to work as a result of the relationship and is having to live on £70 ESA, she has no transport. She has explained this to the officer to be told to get a bus or Taxi. 

I feel this is extremely unreasonable of the Police to adopt this attitude but we are aware that if they don't attend they can be arrested and interviewed. - Yes. that is what will happen. Now arrest doesnt mean anything, but it's unpleasant, so best to just make own way there 

So the questions is, can she refuse to go to the other station because the Police do not have a duty Solicitor at the original station? I would have thought that as it's a main station for the local area they should be able to supply a solicitor and if they cant it's not my daughters fault.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

She can refuse to go anyway. as you are aware, but the reality is that it's best to get this done.

Is 24 hours in a cell worth more or less than a taxi fare?

Comms69

onwards&upwards said:

Was it an abusive relationship?  If so contact women's aid for advice.  The police have a duty of care to victims of domestic abuse and should support her to be able to deal with the situation without causing further distress or harm.  

Although getting a bus doesn't seem too unreasonable if there is one that goes there?

That's not true in the context of a criminal allegation.