To think I have just been charged by the police and not know what to do next

[Worriedmummy2]

This morning I was at netball club with my young daughter when 2 police officers turned up and asked to speak to me. I was panic stricken as I thought something had happened to my husband and son.

They took me a short distance away from everyone and read me my rights. I think I went into shock at the point and have difficulty recalling what was said next.

I all revolves around an incident 2 weeks ago at the same club. The carpark is always busy as a netball and football club is on at the same time. I had trouble getting into a space and tried to edge in really slowly. I was literally going so slowly the speed wasn’t even registering. I was struggling to get in and a space opened up right behind me so I parked there instead. A man then walked up to my window and said ‘you just hit that car’. I replied that I don’t think I hit anything, I didn’t feel anything and was watching very carefully. I also have back sensors which did not go off at all. The man then got aggressive and kept stating that I hit another car. My 6 year old daughter was with me and was getting upset. I said ok I will leave a note.

I then found the only scrappy bit of paper in the car that I could and wrote my mobile on it. I waited until the man walked away as I felt unsafe then went over to the car which I presumed was the one he meant. I could see no damage and there was no damage to my car. Nevertheless I put my phone number under the wiper. I didn’t write on it ‘I got your car’ or anything as I honestly don’t believe I did.

Fast forward 2 weeks and the police turn up. They gave me a list of offences - I think there were 3 and I think one was failing to stop and failing to report an accident. They said Aggressive man told the owner of the car that I had just left a blank piece of paper on the car but that he had my details. I explained what had actually happened I think but, to be honest, I was so stressed I imagine it was pretty jumbled. I’m just in disbelief. Why on earth would anyone leave a blank piece of paper when you go there every week, someone has taken a picture of your car etc.

I even showed them texts I sent to my husband 10 minutes later about what had happened and how I had left my details. I said in the text, I don’t think I hit them but they’ll probably try to claim for everything now so that will be our insurance going up.

The police read the texts, made a note of everything I had said and said they would investigate more. Have I been charged? Do I need a solicitor? What should I do next? My anxiety is through the roof after reading those charges can mean 6 months in prison. Haven’t stopped crying all day.

I was going to suggest that the car owner was a police officer as otherwise it would be very hard for them to be taking so much interest in this considering they claim not to have the resources to deal with violent crime and other serious crimes. I see that you have already ascertained this though.

Why are people being such twats on this thread? I'd have been terrified if I was arrested out of the blue!

Sorry about the miscarriages OP - my anxiety went through the roof after I lost our baby last October

I doubt they'd have tried this shit if you'd had a solicitor present before speaking to them!

My thoughts:

1. Check your sensors in case they are faulty as you didn't hear them go off.
2. If you really didn't hit the car and are being scammed I would suggest you fit front and rear cameras for your car to protect yourself in future from potential scammers.
3. I don't think just a telephone number would-be classed as leaving your details.
4. I am so surprised that police have been out and read you your rights over this. I live in a large city and I can't remember when I last saw a policeman. Oh, I tell a lie, it was on Holby City a couple of weeks ago.

It sounds to be me like inappropriate behaviour - but partly that rests on whether AM was the police officer or if he was asked by the police officer to hit you up about 'you've damaged that car' - if he asked this person to approach you in an aggressive fashion, he'd be in a lot of trouble.

Seems to me if there's CCTV that would be ever such a good thing. Asking fellow officers to come out and speak to you at that location - that seems wrong to me (and as people say, a shocking waste of time) and if carried out based on the 'damaged' car belonging to a police officer, that seems highly inappropriate to me.

I know there are good officers, but this sort of twatfuckery is what makes me feckin' hate the police nowadays, on the whole. And I come from a fully law abiding family with no need to not like them, and from a time when there were coppers on the streets and the default was to treat them with great reverence and respect, which I did. Sadly all the various cases over the years (not least Stephen Laurence and how appallingly that was handled and that bloody Cressida Dickhead saying only certain rapes are rapes, and my own experience of a completely useless WPC in respect of an entirely different and far more serious type of incident, has honestly made me despair and start off on a default of just being highly suspicious of their intentions because they'll trip you up and get you blundering into accepting cautions and so on (not knowing the implications) as soon as look at you. It's a shame to feel that you have to protect yourself against them but that's how I operate whenever I have rare cause to have contact with them - I just don't fully trust their intentions I'm afraid.

The conspiracy theories are getting a little OTT. Regardless of whether you believe it to be a productive use of police time or not, OP has committed a number of offences. A phone number on a scrap of paper is not sufficient. If you are unable to leave full details for any reason then you must inform the police of the accident within 24hrs.

Having been on the other end of this scenario, it is extremely frustrating to have your car bumped and then have the person drive off. No CCTV or witnesses in my case. Hopefully if OP is involved in any more bumps she will leave the correct details next time!

Oh and it’s not WPC 🙄

This is really weird now.

Speak to a solicitor. Don't admit to the damage or talk about paying or anything.

You know when you hit another vehicle. OP is sure she didn't.

All very weird.

Guess that explains why so many police officers were listed as dealing with it when OP phoned 101. OP can you ask if you can submit a claim for abusive behaviour towards you by AM?

This type of example of police favouritism stinks and is eroding respect the public had for them. As others have said when they’ve reported being on the receiving end of collisions, have evidence, the police are not interested.

But yours has involved several officers including arriving at a public training ground. Absurd

I would say - what accident? If there is no mark on your vehicle what exactly are they pursuing.

I have had this in a car park when myself, hubby and child in car - dick saying you hit my car etc - there was the smallest possibility this was true, there was no evidence on either car as I pointed out to him and he accused me of "wiping it off" I just laughed at him gave him my details, took photos and eventually left when he stopped being an arse and standing behind our vehicle as we tried to reverse out of the spot. I think when I started to walk towards the motorway police in the car park he decided better of carrying on with his bullying behaviour.

Hopefully she referred to herself as did her senior officers, as WPC [Insert name] - I'm only repeating what they said.

"Interesting update this morning - I received an email from the man whose car I apparently collided with which contained his full name. Out of interest I looked for him on Facebook and guess what.......he is a serving police officer!!! I guess it is one rule for them and one rule for everyone else. Shocked but not surprised."

I knew it!!!!!

(ask me how I knew )

OP hope your feeling better today. I would have been feeling exactly like you yesterday.

I also agree that something about this feels off and I would be tempted to go through my insurers too. I know there is a risk your premium/NCB could be affected but if this I'd dodgy as amic suggests you may end up massively out of pocket. Plus once it's with the insurers you no longer have to have contact with any third party or aggressive twatty men.

Ahhh sorry just read your update. Definitely go to insurers and protect yourself.

Well it didn't take a genius to work that one out!

Definitely go through insurance. Crooked cunts of coppers.

I'd also be willing to wager my house on it that angry aggressive 'witness' man is also a cop.

So aggressive man in car park has either taken the note off the car, swapped it for a blank one or the car owner has lied. Ok you didn't leave your name and address but you left your number so there was a way to contact you and absolutely no reason to accost you in a car park!

In your situation I would insist on going through my insurer as they will then need proof of the damage caused. If your sensors are working ok, then you couldn't have hit or even come close to another car without them going off.

I would also consider making a complaint about the way you were treated. As others have said, there's no way this would have happened if he hadn't been a serving police officer and it's an abuse of his position.

To be honest, I would be admitting ZERO liability for ANYTHING. I would say unequivocally that you hit nothing - take me to fucking court you crooked pricks! And do not under any circumstances either reply to this fucker, or speak to any more cops (on the phone or otherwise) without a solicitor present. Bastards! can you tell that I've had less than positive interactions with police?

I absolutely abhor people in a position of authority abusing their position. They're renowned for it though. AAAAAargggh. Makes me so fucking angry.

I would be reporting this, don’t be bullied.

I would go very careful now OP.

Do not agree to anything with the police right now and get a good solicitor.

Can I ask which force this is? I imagine they might be in a bit of trouble for so obviously giving preferential treatment to an out of hours officer.

I would honestly go the solicitor route as it all sounds very suspect.
Definitely ask for photos of the damage.

Depending on which police force it is depends on who you could escalate this to within the police force. I wouldn’t let it lie with accepting any blame. It all sounds highly unprofessional and quite honestly you sound within your rights to put in a complaint about at worst the obvious scam at best completely unprofessional and bullish behaviour.

Tell him you are going through insurance.

Phone your insurance company and explain what has happened, give them all the details you have and ask them to deal with it.

As for 'police' office I would to speak to his superior officer and explain what has happened, ask if the police involved have followed correct procedure. Tell him you feel like he is using his status a police officer to harasses you.

OP, I used to work in the legal profession. Cops hate solicitors. For that reason alone, I'd be engaging one, even if it cost me £500. They fucking terrorised you over an alleged prang in a car park. Bastards can't push their weight around like that. I'd ring around a few firms and sound out the one I felt would be more sympathetic to me and ask them to find out what the fuck they have on you. Do not pay for some bastard's car to be repaired when you had nothing to do with any such damage.

And do not take @Clutterbugsmum's advice. You're not equipped to deal with the dirty tactics and cover-ups they're capable of. Find a solicitor today and ask them to look into disclosure of whatever the fuck went on within the police to result in this sort of shit storm over an alleged prang.