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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the police should take flashing seriously?

56 replies

YuleingFanjo · 04/03/2012 20:59

Does anyone know, do the police have to take statements and keep a record of incidents of flashing?

A friend of mine has been repeatedly flashed at in the park (by different people) and this latest one was also acompanied by threats. She has taken a photo of the person doing it but says when the police came round they were unwilling to take a proper statement and also said stuff like 'we really don't think it's worth persuing, he's not a bad lad' so basically they do know who this is.

My friend is really pissed off and upset. can she complain to someone, can she insist that a statement be taken so that the incident is on record incase something else happens in the future?

OP posts:
LilacWaltz · 04/03/2012 21:00

Did they really say that? It's taken seriously round here..

Original poster
YuleingFanjo · 04/03/2012 21:03

yes, they did. Also, when they came to take the statement they didn't even park their car properly and said that they wouldn't be there long. My housemate's flatmate didn't realise the police were in the house (she was upstairs) and actually thought my friend was being threatened because of the tone of their voices.

my friend has had a case go to court previously (the guy got off) so it's possible the police think she is wasting time but she has pictures of the incident which are clear enough for the police to know who it is.

I think it's disgusting.

OP posts:
Original poster
YuleingFanjo · 04/03/2012 21:07

sorry, she's not my housemate! for housemate read friend. managed to confuse things there.

OP posts:
Minshu · 04/03/2012 21:10

I've reported similar twice, many years ago now. First time, man tried to lift my skirt (I was 15 yo at the time) in broad day light - police couldn't care less.

Second time was a more distant flasher, but the officer I spoke to took it very seriously as she acknowledged that some flashers build up confidence and end up assaulting people.

Same police area, but second time I went in to the station the next day (quiet Sunday) rather than ringing up on the Saturday afternoon it happened.

It probably depends who you speak to and what else is going on. Which is a bit rubbish.

fishandlilacs · 04/03/2012 21:11

i think she should report again and complain. I was flashed a few years ago shortly before i moved counties-the police took it so seriously they paid my train fare a couple of weeks later to come back up and look at photo's of potential sex offenders to try and identify him.

Original poster
YuleingFanjo · 04/03/2012 21:14

I am really urging her to complain about the way she has been treated by the police and also wanted to find out if there was some kind of procedure they are supposed to be following when it comes to this kind of crime.

they have made my friend feel really bad.

OP posts:
Nagoo · 04/03/2012 21:14

they do take it seriously round here. There is a serial offender loose ATM and there are police everywhere.

BasilRathbone · 04/03/2012 21:23

They are supposed to take this seriously, because it is very well known that serious sex criminals, start off doing "minor" stuff like this and then as they get away with it, they up the ante and graduate to more serious sexual crime like sexual assault and rape.

If the police force your friend are dealing with don't know this, then you have discovered a very serious training need.

midoriway · 04/03/2012 21:27

Police take it very seriously round here, I was surprised how seriously they took it. They explained that it concerns them because flashers have a tendency to esculate to more extreme stuff.

scurryfunge · 04/03/2012 21:27

Well, the police have to record any incidents of exposure. Depends what facts your friend gave at the time.

squeakytoy · 04/03/2012 21:28

so the flasher posed for pictures????

BasilRathbone · 04/03/2012 21:32

It doesn't take long to take a picture.

If you've got your phone in your hand (which you might have if you were aobut to text someone), with my phone you literally just need to press the button and it automatically goes into camera mode - even if it wasn't in stand-by or anything. It would take less than 2 or 3 seconds and if someone is standing there wanking, I've no doubt they could easily be captured on camera.

But regardless of whether someone has anything captured on camera, the police should definitely take instances of flashing seriously.

Original poster
YuleingFanjo · 04/03/2012 21:39

squeaky, my friend takes her phone with her when she walks her dog in the park. She has had people expose themselves to her several times so she now takes photos if she can. This time round the guy hung around long enough to threaten her and her dog verbally. From what I have been told he is quite blatant. To him it may not even be something he considers a crime, perhaps he thinks it is funny and certainly he must think it is something he can get away with if the police are refusing to follow it up.

my friend is in south london. would there be anywhere online with any kind of complaints procedure of policy?

OP posts:
TunipTheVegemal · 04/03/2012 21:39

Flashing is a 'gateway' crime, which means more serious sex offenders often start out with it.
I have reported a flasher once and it was taken seriously; I have also received a letter from the police when there was a persistent flasher near where I was living, explaining the gateway thing and asking that people report and assuring that it would be taken seriously (same force as when I reported it).

The 'not a bad lad' thing is unprofessional and unacceptable.

Original poster
YuleingFanjo · 04/03/2012 21:54

I find it so frustrating. Another friend of mine's son was beaten up recently and the police were surprised that they wanted to press charges. It was almost like they didn't want to do the papwerwork and also they gave the victim a lecture on fighting back.

OP posts:
TunipTheVegemal · 04/03/2012 21:56

that's bloody awful too.

scurryfunge · 04/03/2012 21:58

I think you have to be careful how friends are relaying these accounts to you. Your perception about what has actually happened may be different to what has occurred.

BasilRathbone · 04/03/2012 21:58

I am astonished that the Met wouldn't take this seriously.

She should definitely complain.

BigGirlInASmallWorld · 04/03/2012 22:05

YANBU

Hopefully the police have paid him a visit at least. Frightening experience :(

Original poster
YuleingFanjo · 04/03/2012 22:22

"Your perception about what has actually happened may be different to what has occurred"

what do you mean? that she wasn't flashed? that the police haven't refused to persue this?

My friend definitely has had people expose themselves to her and they have threatened to smash her dog's head in. She doesn't tend to lie and I do believe her when she says the two policemen who came didn't even take a statement. Not to mention the fact that her housemate, hearing raised voices, thought my friend was being verballly abused by the two men sent to speak to her.

OP posts:
kellestar · 04/03/2012 22:22

I've found more success with the PCSO's, but have on occasion had to call the local police station as I felt threatened by a flasher as he kept loitering around and didn't move away.

I was in the park with DD on my own when I called them. They took it very seriously and there was someone there in a few minutes [station can be seen up the hill] and he tried to run off but they caught up with him. PCSO came by later to say he has had a caution as it's a first offense and if I see him again to give them a call. Disappointed that they can't do more.

We had a real problem with them at this particular park, I used to be a Guide Leader and a few times I've had to call the police out to help when we have gone there for an activity. They followed it up with a session at our unit meeting about safety and what they should do if they are ever in that situation. I was really worried about their safety,

We live in the middle of nowhere and this is the only play equipment park in quite a radius.

I am saddened that your friend feels unsupported, it's horrible for them to treat her this way. It really is initimidating and you feel at such a risk. Does she have a PCSO in her area [Police Community Support Officer] they are often voluntary liason's and can be a good starting point. Certainly make a complaint at least, they have behaved inappropriatley.

scurryfunge · 04/03/2012 22:26

OP, the police don't get any choice about recording crime. Just saying this is third hand info and it may not be what your friend is telling you.

TunipTheVegemal · 04/03/2012 22:30

Oh come on, Scurry. Surely you've heard about the investigations into the way rape complaints are dealt with showing that not only are a lot of rape complaints no crimed, there were others where the police didn't even fill in the basic forms they were supposed to. In the case of the London cab rapist there were a number of incidents along those lines.

scurryfunge · 04/03/2012 22:31

Yes I know. I don't rely on third hand info, that's all.

Original poster
YuleingFanjo · 04/03/2012 22:33

ok, they record it but without taking a statement? do statements have to be signed by the people making them?

I do feel that because the orevious case against another person came to nothing, my friend is not being taken seriously.

OP posts: