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Original poster

Getting out of handcuffs?

258 replies

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 14:34

This is such a bizarre thing to write about but hear me out!

Had a weird situation with the police last night. Won't fully go into it but they mistakenly thought there was a criminal in my house and I was arrested then unarrested when they realised their mistake. I was put into handcuffs. I have hypermobility. And I think due to this I could get out of the cuffs pretty easily. Has anyone else experienced this?

I was so suprised at how easy they are to get out of. Do they have any kind of back up if they really need to keep someone secure? Just keep thinking about it! 😄

OP posts:
LorenzoCalzone · 01/01/2026 15:19

Well you can tick "learn a new skill" off your list of resolutions OP!

That must have been very unsettling. I hope you're all OK.

Maybe it's another case of things being tested from a man's pov - I think car safety features are all designed around a man's frame. Could explain it.

stayathomegardener · 01/01/2026 15:18

I think perhaps you should be making a formal complaint regarding general incompetence.

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:18

Naws · 01/01/2026 15:07

I find that hard to believe.

They didn't handcuff you for fun.

You slipped out of them more than once, when you should've just let them get on with their job.

Show quote history

I think it was all the adrenaline and not liking being handcuffed and it hurting - I wasn't really thinking straight. Just instinct to get them off.

OP posts:
FastFood · 01/01/2026 15:17

I got handcuffed when I was a teenager, I don't have hypermobility but I got out of the cuffs in seconds. I kept them on to be polite.
It wasn't in the UK, and it was years ago, I'm sure they have better ones now.

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:16

Dollymylove · 01/01/2026 15:05

Who was the criminal ans why did the po-po think they were in your house?

I don't know the answer to either! I have never had experience with the police before. The one going round the house seemed pretty incompetent.

OP posts:
NeedForSpeedyGonzales · 01/01/2026 15:15

Divebar2021 · 01/01/2026 14:49

They’re supposed to handcuff at the back but sounds like they weren’t very committed to the arrest from the start.

It's a risk assessment as to how you cuff someone. Forward facing suggests she wasn't assessed as high risk.

However I'm also hypermobile and an ex copper, and I was used in training sessions as a guinea pig to demonstrate how to manage someone with hypermobility. I always ended up bruised because compliance is harder!

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 01/01/2026 15:14

When you say you were arrested, then de-arrested, what was it for?

Norma27 · 01/01/2026 15:14

As far as I know static cuffs can be used to handcuff to the front if you are compliant. Chain link definitely have to be to the back.
Body cuffs can be used instead to handcuff where hyper mobility issues etc.

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:13

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 01/01/2026 15:02

Why did they handcuff you, did you refuse to cooperate with them coming in and looking around? Not that you should have to, under the circumstances.

I was initially reluctant for them to come in. They knocked at the door and said a disturbance had been reported at our house. I assumed they had the wrong house and assured them we were fine. They said a woman had been heard screaming and they needed to check everyone was ok. I said the kids can come to the door so you can see they are ok but we are just about to celebrate new year so I didn't want them coming in. They insisted on coming in. Then were going round the house searching and opened my loft hatch and shouted into it I know you are in there [male name]. So I then realised they were looking for someone not checking we were ok and they thought I was hiding this person maybe? I don't know. Then they found out they were in the wrong place and promptly unarrested me! I don't even know what I was arrested for! 😕

OP posts:
Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 01/01/2026 15:13

Naws · 01/01/2026 14:54

True, the OP committed an offence by slipping out of them so they could have arrested for that if they'd wanted to.

Show quote history

erm, what offence is that?

Ilikesundays · 01/01/2026 15:12

Are you sure they were police officers, not somebody having a prank on NYE?

HavingABlether · 01/01/2026 15:11

Are you sure they were real police? 😂

GaspingGekko · 01/01/2026 15:11

Surely slim wrists would be bad for escaping handcuffs? I'd have thought chunky wrists and comparatively slim hands would be the best combination?

GoodVibesHere · 01/01/2026 15:11

There has got to be more to this story. Why would they handcuff you? That's really not normal Confused

RabbitsEatPancakes · 01/01/2026 15:09

I'm hypermobile and can escape handcuffs quite easily, having previously messed around with police at fetes etc.

However I think if they felt you were a dangerous actual risk they do them much tighter.

Naws · 01/01/2026 15:07

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:01

Oh really? I was a criminal then! I just moved my wrists as they were uncomfortable and then they were just really easy to get off. Didn't know I was commiting a crime! 😂

Show quote history

I find that hard to believe.

They didn't handcuff you for fun.

You slipped out of them more than once, when you should've just let them get on with their job.

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:06

UncannyFanny · 01/01/2026 15:00

So they handcuffed you because they thought there was a criminal in your house? Well that makes perfect sense 😳

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It doesn't make much sense does it? My poor kids both who have autism were terrified and I couldn't comfort them. I think it was handled really badly.

OP posts:
Dollymylove · 01/01/2026 15:05

Who was the criminal ans why did the po-po think they were in your house?

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:04

Kuromi86 · 01/01/2026 15:00

Do you have small wrists? Or were they just on loose? It also depends on the way you are handcuffed, the usual being a rear stack.

My wrists aren't small but I guess they must have been on loosely. They felt tight and uncomfortable when they put them on and I naturally moved my wrists to try and get comfortable and found them coming off. And yeah they were at the front not the back.

OP posts:
PrizedPickledPopcorn · 01/01/2026 15:02

Why did they handcuff you, did you refuse to cooperate with them coming in and looking around? Not that you should have to, under the circumstances.

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:01

Naws · 01/01/2026 14:54

True, the OP committed an offence by slipping out of them so they could have arrested for that if they'd wanted to.

Show quote history

Oh really? I was a criminal then! I just moved my wrists as they were uncomfortable and then they were just really easy to get off. Didn't know I was commiting a crime! 😂

OP posts:
UncannyFanny · 01/01/2026 15:00

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 14:59

No, it wasn't me they thought wss the criminal. They thought they were in my house.

Show quote history

So they handcuffed you because they thought there was a criminal in your house? Well that makes perfect sense 😳

Kuromi86 · 01/01/2026 15:00

Do you have small wrists? Or were they just on loose? It also depends on the way you are handcuffed, the usual being a rear stack.

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 14:59

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 01/01/2026 14:51

So they came to your house in order to arrest someone? With your name and description?

No, it wasn't me they thought wss the criminal. They thought they were in my house.

OP posts:
Naws · 01/01/2026 14:54

Divebar2021 · 01/01/2026 14:49

They’re supposed to handcuff at the back but sounds like they weren’t very committed to the arrest from the start.

True, the OP committed an offence by slipping out of them so they could have arrested for that if they'd wanted to.