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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:
butterpuffed · 01/01/2026 16:45

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.

Are you being serious?!!! Suspects are handcuffed according to how serious their suspected crime is ?? So a murderer would be handcuffed more tightly than a burglar for instance . 😅

Blinkkisses · 01/01/2026 16:45

They do use zipties sometimes so I image they could’ve used them if you kept escaping them and were actually needing to be cuffed

thebutcherswife · 01/01/2026 16:43

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.

Show quote history

FAFO- Fuck around and find out 👊

gryffindor1979 · 01/01/2026 16:43

diddl · 01/01/2026 16:06

So if they thought that you were harbouring a criminal they don't need a warrant to enter the house & search?

No, they don’t need a warrant.

gryffindor1979 · 01/01/2026 16:42

OnlyTomSaidThat · 01/01/2026 16:13

I was thinking about this the other day, and it seems a good thread to ask. What do the police do if they're arresting an amputee?

Say “no arm done” and send them on their way ? 🤔

gryffindor1979 · 01/01/2026 16:41

And you should cuff at the rear but many criminals complain as when they are transported it hurts due to being behind their back- however it’s much safer for the police to do it this way.

gryffindor1979 · 01/01/2026 16:40

Sounds as though there was a report of someone at an address (believed to be yours ) assisting an offender unlawfully at large. But in order to arrest and detain you, they would have needed to tell you the griunds for arrest and caution you. If they didn’t do either of these things I would phone and make a complaint. certainly in our force all police wear BWV now so this can be checked.

Manxexile · 01/01/2026 16:39

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! 😄

If you go to Youtube and watch videos of traffic arrests in the US you'll often see people (ususally women) who've been handcuffed getting out of the handcuffs no trouble whatsoever. Handcuffed in front or behind makes no difference.

Naws · 01/01/2026 16:38

BernardButlersBra · 01/01/2026 16:34

Depends on the force. My local one cuffs at the front

Show quote history

It depends on the person, not the force.

Compliant people are generally cuffed at the front and less compliant at the back.

BernardButlersBra · 01/01/2026 16:34

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.

Depends on the force. My local one cuffs at the front

IDontHateRainbows · 01/01/2026 16:32

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 😳

Show quote history

Yeah I was thinking the same

Strangest thing I've heard all year!

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

LamentableShoes · 01/01/2026 16:15

How odd - I was just quoting a post to reply to, and it has now disappeared. From 8 mins ago. Not edited, nothing to say 'deleted' - just 'there is a problem' sort of message when I tried to post a reply and then when I reloaded the page it had gone.

Nomoreink · 01/01/2026 16:15

But did they take off their shoes 😂😂

UnemployedNotRetired · 01/01/2026 16:14

OnlyTomSaidThat · 01/01/2026 16:13

I was thinking about this the other day, and it seems a good thread to ask. What do the police do if they're arresting an amputee?

Handcuff one limb and attach to their belt, or belt loop.

OnlyTomSaidThat · 01/01/2026 16:13

I was thinking about this the other day, and it seems a good thread to ask. What do the police do if they're arresting an amputee?

BitzNBobz · 01/01/2026 16:13

I think the correct terminology would be that you were detained rather than arrested.

This happens when they think you may be obstructive to their search/operation/whatever is going on.

No experience myself but have watched probably far too many police reality shows and body cam videos 😝

diddl · 01/01/2026 16:06

So if they thought that you were harbouring a criminal they don't need a warrant to enter the house & search?

Starseeking · 01/01/2026 16:05

The police have to tell you what they are arresting you for, they don’t just whack on handcuffs and say you’re under arrest!

KaleidoscopeSmile · 01/01/2026 16:04

Best to co - operate or FAFO as they say

I don't like this attitude which allows the police to do whatever they want whether they're being reasonable or not. This is how we've got to the point of the police being able to enter someone's house by lying as was apparently the case here. We're not the US and the police aren't gods.

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.

Dawnintheageofaquariams · 01/01/2026 16:01

This reply has been deleted

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

YourLoyalPlumOP · 01/01/2026 15:59

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 01/01/2026 15:58

Did the handcuffs look like these?

😂😂😂😂😂😂

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 01/01/2026 15:58

Did the handcuffs look like these?

Getting out of handcuffs?
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?