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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:
NotAnotherScarf · 01/01/2026 21:37

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Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:37

UnemployedNotRetired · 01/01/2026 16:04

If they knew you were hypermobile, then actually cuffing in front is regarded as safer than behind your back.
Or is the issue that you are just really small, as cuffs are designed for average male proportions?
I suspect if you don't carry much of a threat they won't be too carful about the cuffing -- and there is the real danger that over-tight cuffs cause injuries.

They didn't know I was hypermobile...I mean perhaps they realised after a while - I don't know. I'm not really small but smaller than a man. I can imagine they could cause a lot of injury. My wrists and hands are very bruised. I honestly don't know why the handcuffing was necessary. Especially once they realised I could get out of them. It seemed to be about keeping me away from my kids? Not sure, very odd.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:31

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 01/01/2026 15:58

Did the handcuffs look like these?

😂 Not as pretty, no!

OP posts:
ExhaustedPigeon37 · 01/01/2026 21:31

Naws · 01/01/2026 21:23

Read the thread.

Escaping lawful detention.

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Do you mean escaping lawful custody. There is no such law as escaping lawful detention. Getting out of handcuffs doesn’t actually come out of this, it’s only is OP was to run off after she has been told that she has been arrested/detained (for the purpose of a search etc.)

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:31

Naws · 01/01/2026 15:58

Then were going round the house searching and opened my loft hatch and shouted into it I know you are in there [male name].

This gets stranger and stranger.

So they didn't search the loft, just shouted into it?

The woman did eventually search the loft but she had to send for back up because she was too scared to climb the loft ladder without someone holding it. I only found this out after they'd gone and my kids told me what was happening upstairs. But apparently she was shouting 'I know you're in there...' when she clearly had no idea - we just keep laughing about it all now...but at the time it was stressful!

OP posts:
Naws · 01/01/2026 21:26

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:22

I suppose you have to just pretend you've been detained but it all just makes you feel a bit embarrassed for them that they can't seem to manage to actually detain you 😂

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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.

Naws · 01/01/2026 21:23

ExhaustedPigeon37 · 01/01/2026 21:18

What offence is that then? 🤔

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Read the thread.

Escaping lawful detention.

fashionqueen0123 · 01/01/2026 21:22

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:06

Well presumably they can't just slam handcuffs on children? Resemble some mugshot? What?!

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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!

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:22

Naws · 01/01/2026 15:53

Attempting to escape lawful detention.

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I suppose you have to just pretend you've been detained but it all just makes you feel a bit embarrassed for them that they can't seem to manage to actually detain you 😂

OP posts:
ExhaustedPigeon37 · 01/01/2026 21:18

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.

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What offence is that then? 🤔

Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:18

Hollabackgurl · 01/01/2026 15:53

It sounds like you were arrested for harbouring a criminal.

I have had recent dealings with the police, I find them to be utterly incompetent.

I assume it must be something along those lines. And I agree just so incompetent. I could say so much more about what happened but it will sound like I'm exaggerating.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:15

Boomer55 · 01/01/2026 15:52

Odd problem, which I thought was about sex. 😳

If handcuffs are needed, the police use them. But, it seems they sorted it out pretty quickly. 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't say quickly. The whole 'checking everyone was ok' went on endlessly. Honestly it was actually farcical. I'm not sure if to write this because it sounds made up but I promise is true. The police officer who was going round my house 'checking everyone was safe' had to call for back up because she was too scared to climb the loft ladder without someone holding it. The faffing was insane.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:08

BuckChuckets · 01/01/2026 15:49

They didn't arrest you then, surely? They tell you what you're being arrested for.

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Yes, I'm just not sure what they said they were arresting me for.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:06

CremeCarmel · 01/01/2026 15:49

So, you weren't the only one in the house but they only arrested you? Why? Do you resemble some mugshot or something?

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Well presumably they can't just slam handcuffs on children? Resemble some mugshot? What?!

OP posts:
Original poster
FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 21:05

YourLoyalPlumOP · 01/01/2026 15:46

I have to help train the police sometimes and because of that we do lots of role plays where I have to scream in their face or act like I’m a real danger because I’m out of my head on drugs and running towards them with a weapon. So I get put into handcuffs quite often.

I can’t believe how bloody uncomfortable they are! In fact I have to calm myself otherwise I feel really panicked.

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Really uncomfortable! I've had bruises come up.

Oh, I've spoke to the police and it was really police. I've put a complaint in.

OP posts:
ThePieceHall · 01/01/2026 18:57

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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.

fashionqueen0123 · 01/01/2026 18:46

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:37

They did, but I honestly can't remember what was said. I was in shock!

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

Serencwtch · 01/01/2026 18:45

FrostedWoods · 01/01/2026 15:35

Thanks for the explanation! Luckily it went no further than front cuffed! But I can rest assured they are able to restrain actual criminals. What does FAFO mean? I would have cooperated more if they had been a bit more reasonable, polite and calm.

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Fuck around & Find out.

It's a police saying

GoodQueenWenceslaus · 01/01/2026 18:43

Enter a formal complaint. The whole thing sounds like a gigantic co-up on the police's part.

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.

Scohpahni · 01/01/2026 18:36

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SilverPink · 01/01/2026 18:32

2026new · 01/01/2026 16:19

I have been handcuffed many many time and have hyper mobility in my wrists, if they are put on properly to the back I would struggle to get out, at the front and out on loosely not a problem

I’m more intrigued as to why you’ve been handcuffed many times!
Unless it’s sexual related, in which case as you were….

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

MarxistMags · 01/01/2026 18:27

This happened to my son as a teenager. He and his pals were hanging about the town centre and the police put the 4 of them in van - they used to dump them out of the town so they had to walk back ! He was handcuffed behind his back but managed to slip them off much to the police's amazement.
They asked him how he did it and he replied " because I'm fu*ng Houdini "
I thought it was funny 🤣

WiddlinDiddlin · 01/01/2026 18:25

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Which bit?

Police got the wrong house - has happened to me twice now, two seperate properties.

Police show up with no warning whatsoever and search a property - has happened to me once.

Police show up insistent that someone is at your address who isn't, and you've never heard of them - happened to me once.

The first occasion wasn't a total surprise I was expecting police to come and take a statement regarding the burglary of the shop opposite my flat that I had witnessed and called in. I did not expect to have my flat turned over at 7am by police insistent that I had been seen coming out of the shop in question carrying loads of booze and cigs. Overzealous inventive witness further up the street had seen me outside my flat (where I could get a phone signal) after the robbery and decided they'd seen something they hadn't.

The second occasion was in the current house, police insistent someone was here that they were looking for. They did eventually accept that I wasn't the person they had down as being at this address and later still, realised my address wasn't the address they were after at all.

First time I did get an apology from the original crew who had talked to me at the scene, been shown where the theives drove off from, when they came to take my statement. Second time, no apology at all but they had just stood on the doorstep and argued with me rather than actually come in and trashed my property!