False accusations of scratching a car

crh51

Hi, looking for advice if anyone has been in this situation if appreciate so much for help of what to do next etc. 
long story short, at a car park at a busy period and as people do they try to cut corners to gain car parking spaces. I had been waiting for someone to leave with indicator on however another vehicle by passed and went into the space. Words were exchanged at the frustration that I had been waiting for this space and the man decided to shout and show some aggression being alone and with my child I moved on to find another space due to the aggression shown and for my safety. This happens a lot I’m sure so have thought absolutely nothing of it. Fast forward to yesterday when the police contact me to ask me to come in for a voluntary interview regarding criminal damage, I hadn’t a clue why and had to press the officer for more information, I thought I may have been a witness to something. Racking my brains with the information she provided tallied up the that incident. The man (victim they are calling him) has reported me to the police for scratching his car. Firstly that never ever happened I have never done that in my life nor thought to! I said to the officer on the phone that it never happened and she said if I don’t come in voluntarily I would be arrested! I’m now so scared wondering what may happen and how I could possibly prove my innocence. I’ve spoken with family who have said things like, the man could have done it himself seeing an opportunity because of the exchange of words, or the scratch could have been their prior to the incident. He could have done this himself or it could have already been there. Is this a known scam? I’m already being made to feel like I’m the criminal in a case which has yet to be investigated and being falsely accused. Again I have no proof of that as there wasn’t any contact made between vehicles or persons to vehicles so I have no photographs/videos. I’ve never been in trouble with the law and it’s really making me worry. When I go in voluntarily I shall ask for the evidence of this crime CCTV of me doing this, The police haven’t confirmed of any evidence as of yet. Please if anyone could offer any advice I’d appreciate it so much I need to prove my innocence but have no clue how I can. Hoping once I speak with the officer they’ll see that there is no evidence and it’s his word against mine. 

Thanks in advance 

DE_612183

I'm surprised the guy went to the police unless he really though you did this, I'd go in and tell the truth.

If they have CCTV they'll tell you otherwise it's your word against his ( unless he's got some witnesses ) - do you know if there was anyone lese in the car?

As I said - a lot of trouble to go to for what on the face of it sounds like an innocuous incident. 

MattMattMattUK

crh51 said:

Hi, looking for advice if anyone has been in this situation if appreciate so much for help of what to do next etc. 
long story short, at a car park at a busy period and as people do they try to cut corners to gain car parking spaces. I had been waiting for someone to leave with indicator on however another vehicle by passed and went into the space. Words were exchanged at the frustration that I had been waiting for this space and the man decided to shout and show some aggression being alone and with my child I moved on to find another space due to the aggression shown and for my safety. This happens a lot I’m sure so have thought absolutely nothing of it. Fast forward to yesterday when the police contact me to ask me to come in for a voluntary interview regarding criminal damage, I hadn’t a clue why and had to press the officer for more information, I thought I may have been a witness to something. Racking my brains with the information she provided tallied up the that incident. The man (victim they are calling him) has reported me to the police for scratching his car. Firstly that never ever happened I have never done that in my life nor thought to! I said to the officer on the phone that it never happened and she said if I don’t come in voluntarily I would be arrested! I’m now so scared wondering what may happen and how I could possibly prove my innocence. 

You could be arrested yes, when asked to come in voluntarily it is wise to do so. You do not need to prove your innocence, they need to prove your guilt. 

crh51 said:

I’ve spoken with family who have said things like, the man could have done it himself seeing an opportunity because of the exchange of words, or the scratch could have been their prior to the incident. He could have done this himself or it could have already been there. Is this a known scam? I’m already being made to feel like I’m the criminal in a case which has yet to be investigated and being falsely accused. Again I have no proof of that as there wasn’t any contact made between vehicles or persons to vehicles so I have no photographs/videos. I’ve never been in trouble with the law and it’s really making me worry. When I go in voluntarily I shall ask for the evidence of this crime CCTV of me doing this, The police haven’t confirmed of any evidence as of yet. Please if anyone could offer any advice I’d appreciate it so much I need to prove my innocence but have no clue how I can. Hoping once I speak with the officer they’ll see that there is no evidence and it’s his word against mine. 

Thanks in advance 

No, because if you did not do it then it does not exist. You go in, you tell them you require the duty solicitor, you state you will not agree to be interviewed without the duty solicitor. You explain to the duty solicitor what happened, the incident of the man being aggressive and threatening and that you then went elsewhere to park. During the interview the solicitor will then advise you what questions to answer, they may tell you to answer some questions as "no comment", you leave and nothing further will happen because there is no evidence. The solicitor may advise in the interview that this could be viewed as harassment as an extension of the abuse and threats the other party made in the car park, that is up to the police to deal with. 

lisyloo

Go in and tell the truth.
I think it will be obvious to the police what's going on.

A car accident is a civil matter.
If he's alleging criminal damage then that's a police matter.

Goudy

If you didn't do it, there's no (real) evidence, so there is nothing to worry about.
I know it's hard to think like this, but that's how you must now start to think.

Even if they came and arrested you, that is no proof of guilt.

The Police's job is to collect evidence of a possible crime and they need to prove your guilt before they can take any further action.

They might consider you have motivation, but that alone isn't enough to proceed.
There needs to be proof you intentionally set out to cause damage to property or you were reckless and that recklessness damaged property.

You don't have to prove your innocence with CCTV or anything like that, though it will obviously help, particularly if it's a scam or malicious complaint.

Quite often if it is a scam or a malicious complaint, they will see through it easy enough as most people aren't as clever as they think they are, but it's not impossible for someone to "cook up" evidence, perhaps they have a friendly witness that "saw" what fictitiously happened.

But the best advise has already been given though and that is to agree to give your voluntary interview in the presence of a solicitor, either your own or a duty one. 

Again, this isn't proof or admission of guilt, it's just a common occurrence in Police interviews and you won't be denied this.

Kim_13

Even if there was no one else in the car, I wouldn't put it past these sorts of people to invent them. 

Hopefully, as he is lying, there will be inconsistencies in his story that prove he cannot be trusted. 

I'd consider a dashcam for the future. Whilst someone could go and scratch a car on foot after leaving the car, it would have shown you waiting, him jumping the queue for the space and then give an idea of the distance away you went after his shouting episode - providing evidence for your account.

lisyloo

I think the police will see though this is a heartbeat.