To tell you never to accept a caution?

[brasty]

Or at least not without legal advice.

The police often offer cautions in cases where they know there is not enough evidence to secure a conviction. So if you refuse a caution in these cases, the case will simply be dropped. The caution is offered so that the police can officially say the crime has been cleared and dealt with. But many people accept cautions when they are innocent, because of fear of going to court.

Realistically though... How many "innocent" people tend to get arrested or hauled in for questioning? I can't imagine many people going about their normal business find themselves having to choose between accepting a caution or going to court. Under what circumstances, for example?

Iam - my thoughts exactly.

As I said, if you don't want a caution then don't get in trouble. This advice has served me well for over fifty years.
Have you any idea how many abusive partners issue (invented) counter allegations once arrested or separated?

Yup.

Also I would go further and not actually say anything until I had legal counsel.

gin- to be honest, no I don't. However, I would question why an innocent person would accept a caution knowing full well that they were innocent.

"I am crying really need help...i am ashian right now staying in london on work permit my age is 32 and have decent job and education, dut to one unfortunate event i recently got police caution - of shoplifting/theft 40.40 pounds. all my life i have never been in such trouble i went with intent to exchange of cloths but did not like other option so i bought few new one and when i was coming back security staff asked me to show the receit i showed him recipt as i did not had receipt of 2 cloths which i went for exchange-as store posses policy that for exchange receipt is not required. when i was trying to explain him he got angry and called police even i tried to explain police but as he called police , police considered him true and gave me caution- but no panelty.in uk police caution are not considered criminal convictions but they keep such things on police record. its like warning dont do it again from police. though i was innocent but did not had courage and fight i accepted caution as i !
wanted to get out of the matter."
britishexpats.com/forum/immigration-citizenship-canada-33/single-police-caution-shoplifting-theft-40-40-pounds-need-canada-visitorvisa-714124/

No idea if she did shoplift, but totally understand how someone who saw a caution as a mere warning, would accept a caution to put the matter behind them.

Iamagreyhound out with a group of friends or at a party and suddenly one of them says 'hold this' and a moment later the cold hard arm of the law lands on your shoulder. I could easily see that happening to a teenager especially if they are quite young/less worldly wise.

In my happy middle aged, middle class bubble it probably won't happen to me but my DCs aren't in that bubble so I could see it happening to one of them.

I can remember as a teenager being with a boy in a shop, who shoplifted when I was there. I was furious with him. But if he had been caught, as I was standing right there and did nothing at the time, I could have been charged too.

So all working class people have druggie boyfriends? Just wow, OP

Yeah make things up.

The suspect needs to admit guilt to the offence before they can be offered a caution. It’s a disposal decision just like a charge or a NFA (no further action). They usually only get offered a caution if it’s their first offence of that kind...it’s kinda like a slap on the wrist. But they can get arrested and charged if they offend again and rarely will be offered a caution twice in a row.

Having reached my fifties I have never been in the position where I have had to decide whether or not I should agree to a caution or not.

user the person in my story is a professional aged over SIXTY who has never so much as had a speeding ticket. You may learn one day that abiding by the law does not mean you never have a brush with it.

@OlennasWimple "And still, when I get pulled over by the police, I crumble a bit, lose my confidence, worry about what is going to happen..."

Just a thought, but... don't do anything that could mean you get pulled over the police?

GlossyShine - shocking isn't it. I don't expect the OP to believe me when I say that despite growing up in Wythenshawe, South Manchester, that the majority of the people I knew were honest, hard working, law abiding people. I'm guessing is is is her that has lived a sheltered life and is just jumping on the general stereotypes of the working class. Disgusting vile attitude.

The police are a) fallible, meaning they may decide you definitely did something, even if you did not; and b) pretty cunning, and far more knowledgeable in legal processes than the average member of the public. For this reason I would recommend getting a lawyer before you say a single word to a police officer if you are arrested or believe you are under suspicion of something.

There are numerous cases of people going to prison for crimes they did not commit, so let's not pretend innocent people never have anything to worry about.

I agree with the OP.

It's particularly good advice for teenagers in groups, people who are victims and had a counter-allegation thrown at them, and anyone who was daydreaming and walked out of a shop without paying / baby grabbed sweets at the till.

If you accept a caution, it affects your life and career choices. Often forever.

But people do - not because they're guilty, but because they want to get out of the claustrophobic interview room / custody suite. And because they don't want their family to know. And they're scared. And they have a young child to collect.

It's not a just system, actually.

Just a thought, but... don't do anything that could mean you get pulled over the police?

Such as not be young and black. Don't do that!

Yes make shit up. I have spent many years living in very poor areas, and I suspect the middle class consume way more illegal drugs than the working class. But don't let facts get in the way of a good made up story will you.

My thoughts, too, Diego.

Just a thought, but... don't do anything that could mean you get pulled over the police?

Like having a car that looks similar to one that was involved in an incident? I'll make sure I never do that.

@Pickleypickles "Or just obey the law and the police tend not to bother you"

Quite. It's not hard not to get arrested, or to have the police turn up at your door, or to get pulled over by the police. Just obey the law!

I agree op I've been in this situation and luckily I told them where to get off. The even lied about it not showing up anywhere. If I had accepted it I'd have never worked in my field again.

I refused and case got dropped

And I have been stopped by the police for those routine checks they do on vehicles roadside. Always seems to be old bangers they pull over. They have never found anything though.
If you are white and drive a newish car, you may never be pulled over.