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Original poster

Just been accused of being a person of interest in a malicious communications offence that happened years ago

330 replies

justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 12:39

I received a letter from the police summoning me to the station of a voluntary interview. I am a person of interest in a malicious comms case that occured in 2019.

Does this mean I am a suspect, or a witness etc.?
How can I find out who reported me ?

OP posts:
sofasunday · 30/09/2023 12:55

I find it interesting that you don’t remember at all, was there anything you posted that had a bad reception from people eg people trying to correct you or suggesting you delete it? You should call the police and ask for them to arrange a solicitor for this

VisionsOfSplendour · 30/09/2023 12:55

justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 12:46

But I genuinely don't remember cos it was so long ago

Show quote history

How do you know you don't remember if you don't know what it is? Or do you mean you do know what it is but don't remember what you wrote?

No doubt it will become clear when you speak to the police

OnAFrolicOfMyOwn · 30/09/2023 12:55

If it's for GC views, try posting on the Feminism board - they are very clued up about the legal position and protected status of holding GC views.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Crime
DarkDarkNight · 30/09/2023 12:56

Post on the Legal board or ask for this to be moved. I wouldn’t go to a voluntary interview if I didn’t have to, but as you say if it was that or be arrested I would go. Definitely treat it seriously and have a legal representative with you. They may be trying to get you to admit to something, be very cautious about agreeing to or signing anything.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 30/09/2023 12:57

Take a solicitor, no comment. A caution is an admission of guilt so don’t take one.

Years ago Dh’s ex gf forged his signature to draw down the overpayments they’d made on their mortgage, took the money, admitted it all on tape during an interview with the police under caution and refused to admit guilt. The CPS couldn’t afford to take it to trial and dropped it due to lack of evidence.

Lampzade · 30/09/2023 12:57

RudsyFarmer · 30/09/2023 12:52

Do not turn up without legal representation. Do not admit to anything. Do not accept a caution. Make them prove it. Personally I would No Comment, No Comment. No Comment.

Edited

This

Tilllly · 30/09/2023 12:58

AutumnFroglets · 30/09/2023 12:54

My advice is to admit it, if you've done it
DO NOT DO THIS!!!

Ask for a solicitor to sit in with you if you go voluntarily. If you are GC and it's about that then there have been many high profile cases already.

Which police force is it? Some are worse than others for targeting GCs.

Edited

Tbf, a solicitor will likely advise a no comment interview - this forces the police to prove the case

But if the evidence against you is compelling, you're best off admitting guilt to mitigate any sentence

Get the duty solicitor when you attend - it's free

sadaboutmycat · 30/09/2023 12:58

Don't rule out a case of mistaken identity.
We had a call, on my mobile, from a police seargent. I called him back to ensure no fraud. He told me that my daughter L had been witness to a SA and that they needed her statements. He gave me chapter and verse about the people concerned- not people I had ever know to be friends with my 23yo DD. I stopped him and said "L is in the room now, I'll put you on speaker". None of those concerned were known to my DD and then he said "you are at school with them". She replied "I am 23!".
He had the wrong person. By now, we knew the name of the victim of a serious SA, the alleged attacker, and witnesses. No apology. No GDPR consideration.
So verify that they have the right person first!!

RudsyFarmer · 30/09/2023 12:58

For those criticising for not remembering their whole posting history from four years ago. You can honestly remember everything you posted online in 2019? You understand that all it takes is for one person to decide they don’t like something you said online and declare it to be hateful for some police forces in this country to be interested? Like you don’t have to do much at all.

Original poster
justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 12:59

DarkDarkNight · 30/09/2023 12:56

Post on the Legal board or ask for this to be moved. I wouldn’t go to a voluntary interview if I didn’t have to, but as you say if it was that or be arrested I would go. Definitely treat it seriously and have a legal representative with you. They may be trying to get you to admit to something, be very cautious about agreeing to or signing anything.

How do I move this to the legal board?

OP posts:
TotalOverhaul · 30/09/2023 12:59

DS was interviewed as a PoI in a serious crime. The perpetrator accused DS of being involved to deflect his own crime. DS went to the interview and was grilled very aggressively but cleared of all charges. The perpetrator was found guilty. If you didn't do anything the best thing is to get a duty solicitor, give them a statement to read to the police then to answer 'no comment' to everything.

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/09/2023 13:00

justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 12:52

if u don't turn up, they just arrest u

Show quote history

If they arrest you, you can request a solicitor. Do not speak to them without one @justbeenaccused.Thanks

Lampzade · 30/09/2023 13:00

Op,
I don’t understand why you can’t remember.
Have you ever posted controversial things or sent emails/ messages to anyone.?
Can you look back at your emails: messages.etc?

Original poster
justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 13:01

Tilllly · 30/09/2023 12:58

Tbf, a solicitor will likely advise a no comment interview - this forces the police to prove the case

But if the evidence against you is compelling, you're best off admitting guilt to mitigate any sentence

Get the duty solicitor when you attend - it's free

Show quote history

what would be compelling evidence in a malicious communications offence?
would it be a post with my name and face attached to it?
would it be an IP address to my home address?

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 30/09/2023 13:01

RudsyFarmer · 30/09/2023 12:58

For those criticising for not remembering their whole posting history from four years ago. You can honestly remember everything you posted online in 2019? You understand that all it takes is for one person to decide they don’t like something you said online and declare it to be hateful for some police forces in this country to be interested? Like you don’t have to do much at all.

Absolutely this!! Needs pinned this advice!

Inkpotlover · 30/09/2023 13:01

justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 12:59

How do I move this to the legal board?

Show quote history

Report the thread to MN and ask for it to be moved.

Not sure why everyone thinks you've been GC. It's much more likely to be personal.

AutumnFroglets · 30/09/2023 13:01

Not heard of that one tbh, if you'd said Brighton though...
Admit to nothing, sign nothing. There are some lazy police who don't care as long as they can tick their stats even though it can ruin your choice of future jobs.

Person of interest is a suspect. If they meant witness they would have used witness. They didn't.

I couldn't tell you what I wrote last year never mind 2019 so I get why you are worried. Good luck OP.

Original poster
justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 13:02

Lampzade · 30/09/2023 13:00

Op,
I don’t understand why you can’t remember.
Have you ever posted controversial things or sent emails/ messages to anyone.?
Can you look back at your emails: messages.etc?

This is only being brought up now bc I accused my cousin of sexual abuse against me and his family have been telling mine that they will report me for something to get back at me as revenge. Shall I tell the police this ?

OP posts:
Daftasabroom · 30/09/2023 13:03

Do not , under any circumstances, give a voluntary interview to the police. Let them arrest you and do not, under any circumstances, say a word without a lawyer present.

I had dates and times changed on a statement I gave.

readbooksdrinktea · 30/09/2023 13:03

Inkpotlover · 30/09/2023 12:52

You are definitely not the witness. Person of interest does mean suspect.

Show quote history

Usually means that they don't have enough to charge, or openly say 'suspect', doesn't it? (I'm probably watching too many crime docs!)

It's not great, in any case, and it's not a witness by my understanding. Then they would have said that, I would think,

MichelleScarn · 30/09/2023 13:04

All those 'confused as to why op can't think what it is, as rudsy and others have said, anything you post that someone says upsets them can be classed as a 'hate crime' now.

Original poster
justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 13:04

Daftasabroom · 30/09/2023 13:03

Do not , under any circumstances, give a voluntary interview to the police. Let them arrest you and do not, under any circumstances, say a word without a lawyer present.

I had dates and times changed on a statement I gave.

wouldnt an arrest make me look uncooperative?

OP posts:
Inkpotlover · 30/09/2023 13:05

justbeenaccused · 30/09/2023 13:01

what would be compelling evidence in a malicious communications offence?
would it be a post with my name and face attached to it?
would it be an IP address to my home address?

Show quote history

Yes, compelling evidence would be linking an online comment or email or text to an IP address that's registered to you at your home. But unless it was something as serious as threatening someone's life, I just can't see why the police would bother to trace a message from four years ago. Which makes me think it's personal. Have you been in touch with anyone recently who you fell out with in 2019? An ex partner? An ex friend? Teacher at your kids' school? I think that something that's happened very recently must have triggered that person to finally make a complaint to the police and they've been hanging on to past communications in case you did anything else.

readbooksdrinktea · 30/09/2023 13:06

And there is no chance I'd turn up to a police interview without a legal rep.

LakeTiticaca · 30/09/2023 13:06

Dont do the police's work.for them. Tell them to come to you

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