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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:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:37

diddl · 01/01/2026 21:52

I didn't mean you specifically but if they suspect someone is.

But I was just about to ask you the same thing.

Why did they think that there was a criminal in your house?

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Well it seems to stem from that there was a report that a woman was heard screaming - they got the wrong address and came to me. I wasn't keen to let them in and can only think at the correct address was some history of a violent individual, boyfriend they thought I was protecting? All speculation as nothing was explained.

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ThePieceHall · 01/01/2026 23:29

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:13

Oh no. I hope you were ok in the end?

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Well, apart from the resulting PTSD, I’m absolutely fine! I can (almost) laugh about my experience now. The custody officer processing me ie DNA swabs/ search/ fingerprints/mugshot) tried to reassure my distress by telling me that I could tick being arrested off my bucket list. No, matey, being arrested had never been on my radar let alone my wish list before it happened! Isn’t that all about going to Bali or wherever? Not a cell in the local nick?! Also, literally every single person who stuck their head through the cell hatch (and there were lots of them in the course of 21 hours) asked me if it was my first time being arrested, like it was some socially acceptable rite of passage. Oh, and having to press a buzzer every time I needed a wee because I had to ask for loo roll. Apparently, I am the only person ever in the cells in living memory of the custody sergeant to ask for a toothbrush and toothpaste.

u3ername · 01/01/2026 23:28

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:19

Well no, they were saying a male name and I'm a female. I didn't know why the back up arrived at the time. It was only afterwards when 'debriefing' with the children they told me the police officer had said the loft ladder was too wobbly and she had to get one of the other officers to hold the ladder for her. This was presumably wht she was styling it out confidently claiming she knew 'Jim' was in the loft! She was waiting for back up for a wobbly ladder! I don't even know how you could pull the ladder up and close the hatch from up in the loft!

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Such an upsetting incident!

If a woman has been reported screaming t why they weren’t looking for her but only for a named male?
And surely they teach them to climb ladders as a basic in ‘police academy’!

I knew a police officer studying for his first degree, so no, afaik they don’t need a degree to start working as one.

I'm quite curious about the hyper mobility? What else can you do - how did you know you’ve got this?

I hope your children are doing ok - how scary for them.

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Seems most people's experience has been different to yours if you read the thread.

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Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:26

Naws · 01/01/2026 21:26

If they wanted to go harder, they would've put the cable tie types on and hands behind your back.

But the whole thing is very odd.

You not remembering what you were apparently arrested for and them shouting into a loft for a man they were looking for, like they're going to follow it up with "Coming, ready or not".

Then there's the fact you appear to find it hilarious, despite your two children witnessing it.

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Not unusual not to process things when stressed as the pre frontal cortex shits down especially when you have autism like me.

And yeah I mean why she didn't just brave the terribly wobbly ladder I climb up and down all the time rather than just shouting up I don't know. But when I told the officer to get her to stop shouting as it would scare my kids apparently her going around shouting for someone to come out was necessary.

And yeah the humour is especially necessary as my children witnessed it to help them with the trauma. Doubt the police are going to pay for therapy are they?

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:19

fashionqueen0123 · 01/01/2026 21:22

If they were looking for a criminal did you look like them?! Otherwise this is so weird!

what on earth about the loft ladder? 🤣 you must have been expecting a camera crew to appear!

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Well no, they were saying a male name and I'm a female. I didn't know why the back up arrived at the time. It was only afterwards when 'debriefing' with the children they told me the police officer had said the loft ladder was too wobbly and she had to get one of the other officers to hold the ladder for her. This was presumably wht she was styling it out confidently claiming she knew 'Jim' was in the loft! She was waiting for back up for a wobbly ladder! I don't even know how you could pull the ladder up and close the hatch from up in the loft!

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GoodQueenWenceslaus · 01/01/2026 23:14

I'm so glad you've entered a complaint. It doesn't sound as if the cops ever had valid cause to arrest you, even on the basis that they thought there was a criminal in the house - let alone to handcuff you. Total cock-up by them.

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:13

ThePieceHall · 01/01/2026 18:57

I can believe it. I have never had as much as any points on my licence after driving for 30 years. I have no convictions or prior arrests. I was arrested on a Sunday in January in 2024. I was ‘processed’ then detained in a cell for 21 hours. I was interviewed under caution with a duty solicitor present.

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Oh no. I hope you were ok in the end?

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Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:11

fashionqueen0123 · 01/01/2026 18:46

I would phone and ask what the hell happened. Why would they arrest you when they realised they were in the wrong house !

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They unarrested me when they realised they'd come to the wrong house.

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Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:09

StephensLass1977 · 01/01/2026 18:41

One of the most bizarre things I've ever read.

Why are you finding it all so hilarious, op? I'd be absolutely steaming livid. And if it then emerged it was a prank/not real police, I'd devote my life to finding out who it was and then make them pay.

I am extremely angry and upset. But I'm turning it into a big funny adventure to try and help my kids and me deal with it. I'm a nurse so I suppose it's gallows humour.

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Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:04

KaleidoscopeSmile · 01/01/2026 18:31

"If they did cuff her, it wasn't for shits and giggles"

The police seem to do a lot of things for shits and giggles. There are constant new stories about it, often followed by the chief constable (or whatever they're called these days) apologising in public

Quite. That poster seems extraordinary naieve.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 23:00

ThePieceHall · 01/01/2026 18:16

When I got arrested last year, the six officers who came to my house didn’t cuff me. I asked them not to because my DD2 was upset and I pointed out that, as a middle aged woman, I was hardly likely to be a flight risk.

These ones didn't care. Not interested in avoiding traumatising or endangering autistic children. All for absolutely no reason as the cuffs didn't detain me any way but they wouldn't calm down until I 'pretended' they did.

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Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:56

youalright · 01/01/2026 18:02

I've been handcuffed at the back once and they where very tight I had marks from them for days after. They can loosen or tighten them but they obviously didn't feel like you where a risk to them or a flight risk so didn't worry to much about how they put them on

But why put them on atall? If I wasn't a 'flight risk' ...hardly going to just run off and leave my kids am I ...then why put them on at all? Just seemed to be a big song and dance over nothing.

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Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:47

Lovelyindevon · 01/01/2026 17:50

As one or two here have said - now that the novelty of being handcuffed and escaping has worn off I think you need to be asking a few questions.

Mainly, what on earth was going on, why were they at your address, why were your arrested?

They should have their camera's switched on and so there should be some evidence of events.

Any queries you have should be aimed at someone fairly high up the chain - not just the staff on the desk.

Edited

You just have to fill in an online form to make a complaint. There is no phone number and noone to talk to apparently.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:46

Oneforallandallforone · 01/01/2026 17:46

You are so nonplussed descriping what would be a terrifying, horrific, ordeal.
Police barging into a house, putting the homeowner in handcuffs, searching a house and shouting into the loft. Then taking them off and leaving. Surely to goodness you'd have gone to the police station today to look for an explanation.
Are you involved with drugs or criminals?

No I'm not involved with drugs and criminals! 😂 And not sure what thread you're reading that I'm nonplussed! And go to the police station?! You've got to be joking?! I've just had a horrible experience with the police leaving me upset and angry and in pain. My children were put in danger by them and have been traumatised and you think I'm going to drag them back to be around these very people?! Either you don't have children or you're insane. Instead I've calmly followed the procedure to confirm it really was the police and made a complaint.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:38

plominoagain · 01/01/2026 17:32

Sounds very much like you were detained , rather than arrested to be honest , and yes there is very much of a difference. They probably cuffed you to be on the safe side , as plenty of officers have found out that women will assault them as well as men.

If they thought there was someone unlawfully at large in your house , then their powers of entry fall under section 17 of PACE , and don’t require a warrant . Neither does gaining entry to save life and limb , which if they believe there was a disturbance going on, would be their justification. Did they actually tell you in words that you were arrested ?

As I have said I was definitely arrested. And not sure what 'safe side' they were on considering the cuffs did nothing I could easily have assaulted them if I so chose. They claimed to be entering to check on my safety, whether that was just a lie I don't know. But they had the wrong place so I don't believe there were any grounds for them to enter. Life and limb I don't see how they could use that as they could clearly see I was fine. And yes they said I was arrested.

OP posts:
ThePieceHall · 01/01/2026 22:35

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:33

It flipping was! 😂

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You’ve not lived till you’ve been in a cell for 21 hours!

MILLYmo0se · 01/01/2026 22:35

Did they actually arrest you, or put handcuffs on you to keep you restrained while they figured things out? (I don't even know of that's actual procedure but I'd always assumed if they were arresting you they d have to say you are being arrested on suspicion of XYZ
I'm always amazed on US police body cams how often arrested people manage to get out of cuffs..... Thinking about it though, it seems to usually be woman, maybe it's wrists being smaller or they tend not to lock them as tight? There's usually screeching about the officer breaking their arm while trying to get the cuffs on so maybe they are worried about being accused of hurting a female

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:33

CountryMouse22 · 01/01/2026 17:25

Sounds like quite an adventure!

It flipping was! 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:32

NewYearSameYou · 01/01/2026 17:08

Sounds like you were just being detained until they figured out what was going on, not arrested.

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No I was actually arrested as they then had to 'unarrest' me! 😄 No 'sorry we made a mistake'...just a little sheepishly 'I am now unarresting you' 😂

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Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:29

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 01/01/2026 17:07

I don’t know about police procedure.

But there’s got to be a spot for you on Britain’s Got Talent. Can you escape from chains in a big tank of water too? Or maybe wriggle out of a straitjacket?

Well...who knows? Maybe a new career? 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 22:28

somanychristmaslights · 01/01/2026 17:05

So police came into your house looking for someone and just arrested you and handcuffed you for no reason? Yeah right 🙄

Perhaps have a read of the thread so you know what actually happened!

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scotlands · 01/01/2026 22:27

I thought the twist to this tale wpuld be that they brought a boom box and then started to strip. Happy new year!

Naws · 01/01/2026 22:27

How many times did you slip the cuffs and why didn't they simply hold your wrists to prevent you?

Naws · 01/01/2026 22:26

Why do you keep darting back and forth with your quotes OP?

It's very confusing that you're quoting posts from before 5pm and then recent posts and then back and forth again.