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Original poster

advice for what we should do if the police visit?

114 replies

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 24/01/2022 15:39

It occurred to me that I have no idea what I should do if the police came to my door.

Am I right in thinking that if they request an interview you can refuse to attend until you have posted on MN?

Can anyone point a boring, conformist, clean living woman who may have written polite emails, harbour stickers and haberdashery (and who is definitely offensively female) in the direction of practical advice?

I think Ceri Black politely refused all invitations to go to the station, Marion Millar and PP both attended with a solicitor, and Granarchist went alone.

Because, frankly, I'm now at the stage of "bring it on".

OP posts:
yourhairiswinterfire · 24/01/2022 17:25

Based on previous GC arrests, the thing to do seems to be to immediately start a crowdfunder to cover your legal fees, then once the charges get dropped, go mysteriously quiet and don't tell anyone what's happened to their money or whether they're going to get it back.

I know what happens to it.

And when we donate, we donate fully aware that charges could be dropped. That's why people should only donate what they can afford to lose.

Once again, our money and how we choose to spend it is none of your business. You just worry about your own, we'll worry about ours 😊

JustcameoutGC · 24/01/2022 17:22

I hope Marion spent my £50 on stickers and ribbons.

NoraEphronsNeck · 24/01/2022 17:20

vivariumvivariumsvivaria

I feel exactly the same - bring it on! They can't arrest us all for dangerous stickering (foresees another amendment to Police & Crime Bill).

Thelnebriati · 24/01/2022 17:12

This page provides advice about the law and your rights. This will help answer any questions you might have – and help you decide how to act.

www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/advice_information/what-if-im-arrested/

CatherinaJTV · 24/01/2022 17:10

@BlueberryCheezecake

Based on previous GC arrests, the thing to do seems to be to immediately start a crowdfunder to cover your legal fees, then once the charges get dropped, go mysteriously quiet and don't tell anyone what's happened to their money or whether they're going to get it back.
Grin
InvisibleDragon · 24/01/2022 17:09

A long time ago when I was a Climate activist, the advice if you get arrested was to give a "no comment" interview and use your phonecall to request a solicitor. The recommended firm was Bindermans, who have a lot of experience in defending the right to protest:
www.bindmans.com/what-we-do/right-to-protest/team

Don't know how up-to-date that advice is though!

Original poster
vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 24/01/2022 17:07

Well, @BeyondShrinks, Granarchist has medical needs and a mobility scooter but seems to have been left to hope it's battery didn't give out half way up the hill on her way home at 3am.

So, I imagine that if you needed a carer you'd be gubbed.

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Original poster
vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 24/01/2022 17:04

Me too, @SamphiretheStickerist.

If the seeds I sent to allotments weren't needed and got spent on a wee spa weekend or an electricity bill or counselling to recover from her laboured gardening, fair play to her.

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RocketPanda · 24/01/2022 17:03

I reckon I am a lot older than some posters here so have less to lose in terms of employment, status etc. I may or may not have been in possession of stickers. I may or may not have given stickers to another person. I may or may not have left offensive ribbons in public places. They can come for me, I don't care.

BeyondShrinks · 24/01/2022 17:02

I do have two questions on the subject, mind...

  1. How does being arrested even work if you are dependant on a carer through severe disability? Are they held with you? 😄
  2. If you claim a mysterious third "gender", not NB but something really obscure - how does intimate searching work?
SamphiretheStickerist · 24/01/2022 16:59

@BlueberryCheezecake

Based on previous GC arrests, the thing to do seems to be to immediately start a crowdfunder to cover your legal fees, then once the charges get dropped, go mysteriously quiet and don't tell anyone what's happened to their money or whether they're going to get it back.
Ooh! Yes. I'd forgotten about that part.

And I have never asked for my money back. Every time I have donated I have been told that money is being kept because of the likelihood of appeals and/or that A N Other cause wil get the money, if I have no objections. My choice.

What you mean is that they don't publicise what happens to the money that may not be used up. Which is entirely different! And eminenetly sensible, Not least because it annoys some people... and leads others to make daft insinuations! Smile

GenderCriticalDad · 24/01/2022 16:55

If denied menstrual products would leaving bloody handprints everywhere be a valid response.

Original poster
vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 24/01/2022 16:54

@yourhairiswinterfire Scottish politicians didn't want rape victims to be allowed to ask for a female forensic medic. Not for the right to HAVE a female, for the right to ASK for one.

So, yes, if your intimate searcher is a TW then there is a conflict between their employment law and your 2010 equality act exemptions.

I'd refuse.

The majority of TW in that position would find someone else to do the search because they are not nasty people. However, if you got a TRA TW who was also a misogynist high on power that being in the police comes with and who also wishes to exert that power over you while you are in a vulnerable position - well, tricky.

I would question why they would need to look up my bumhole if I was arrested for stickering, though, that does seem a little disproportionate.

Am tempted to start sewing ribbons onto my tampon threads as an act of rebellion.

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tricervixtops · 24/01/2022 16:54

It is beyond belief that this is real and we're actually having this conversation. The world has gone absolutely mad.

BeyondShrinks · 24/01/2022 16:50

Ps - ring doorbell!

BeyondShrinks · 24/01/2022 16:49

@Eatsleepgamerepeat

If they're are your door they're there to arrest you not invite you to attend voluntarily.

But I wouldn't answer the door. They can't force entry unless they have a Section 18 search warrant or believe there is a genuine concern for your welfare.

Mother of god!
Original poster
vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 24/01/2022 16:48

I'm actually really embarrassed that I don't know anything about this. I like to think that I'm not naive, but, I've never been in any trouble because I'm Very Very Boring.

So, opening the door is key? If you open the door they can arrest you, if you refuse they have to go and get paperwork.

I grew up with posters of the Lost Boys on my bedroom wall which has proven to be handy. The principles of vampire management apply - don't invite them in.

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yourhairiswinterfire · 24/01/2022 16:47

Is it true that tw police officers can carry out intimate searches of women?

Well, plenty of women were asking the police about this (on Twitter), and instead of answering 'yes' or 'no', the police account threatened to report the women asking about their rights for 'hate'.

So that's reassuring...Hmm

Original poster
vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 24/01/2022 16:46

Ah, so they'd phone to request a voluntary interview, @Eatsleepgamerepeat. And that's the one you turn up with a solicitor, record everything, no comment and present a prepared statement.

If they arrive at your door they think they have enough evidence to prosecute you and want to interview you under caution. Which means finding a solicitor from the station with your one phonecall, or getting the duty solicitor who is probably very skilled but possibly lacks experience of helping middle aged women caught with ribbons in their pocket.

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EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 24/01/2022 16:44

If they're are your door they're there to arrest you not invite you to attend voluntarily.

Several people have had police to their door 'for a friendly chat' (including Graham Linehan, iirc). Wasn't it framed that way for Harry Miller?

Ceri Black had the police to her door and declined the invitation to interview anywhere. They certainly returned back in December to tell her that she's being referred to the prosecution service although I've lost track since then.

IcakethereforeIam · 24/01/2022 16:41

Aren't you supposed to flag down a bus? Seriously, although unlikely this worries me. Is it true that tw police officers can carry out intimate searches of women? I hope this is just scaremongering.

Eatsleepgamerepeat · 24/01/2022 16:41

If they're are your door they're there to arrest you not invite you to attend voluntarily.

But I wouldn't answer the door. They can't force entry unless they have a Section 18 search warrant or believe there is a genuine concern for your welfare.

Original poster
vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 24/01/2022 16:37

Will they let me take my rucksack of survival gear into the cell, though?

Because I've just added a crochet blanket I've been meaning to get on with, dry shampoo, a foot soak and a book of meditation.

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EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 24/01/2022 16:35

@aweegc

And any menstrual products you may need.
Non-allergenic skin products so some of us can wash our hands safely. (In addition to the toothpaste kit.)

I'd imagine gluten-free people should carry their own snacks with them.

Spare face masks, spectacle wipes. I'm pretty cold most of the time so maybe I should carry one of those emergency foil blankets.

Original poster
vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 24/01/2022 16:35

Oh yes, and she had a baby that was breastfed at home, didn't she?

Jesus.

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