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.

They're actually not allowed to question you with leading questions without you exercising your right to legal representation (free) - I know this as, one of the rights I was given was the right to a copy of the handbook on my rights - I read and digested that over and over again for whatever amount of hours I was held in a cell for sitting in a park! You've been fucking taken for a ride.

My appalling solicitor was young and stupid. The cops however knew what they were doing.

OP thinks she hit a car

Except OP doesn't think she hit a car. No bump, no mark, no activation of her sensors. Just the word of an aggressive man.

They knew damn fucking well that their massive charge wouldn't get past a magistrate, so they stitched me up. The solicitor was a complete muppet though (duty solicitor).

So you have motor legal insurance, OP? Sorry if you’ve already said—I have read the thread but can’t recall.

Except OP doesn't think she hit a car. No bump, no mark, no activation of her sensors. Just the word of an aggressive man. Exactly!

Your duty solicitor had a 3 year law degree, a years post graduate training and then likely shadowed another solicitor for a while as well. They just couldn't be arsed doing a decent job. Get a proper solicitor and apply to have the caution overturned.

And i meant to write "someone thinks the OP hit a car". Maybe we do need that post edit function after all.

This one was particularly dumb (I knew more as a legal secretary and having read my wee booklet than she did).
Can I get a caution overturned? That's news to me. Must look into that! Though, I've heard of charges (even when you're proven not guilty in court) coming up in the DBS check, so I'm not sure what it would achieve. In any case, it's hardly a massive offense so could easily be explained if needs be. That said, out of curiosity, I'm going to call a solicitor lol.

Strange. If an allegation of a non injury collision was made to police, where one party had not left details, at most police would exchange details between owners to ensure section 170 of the road traffic act had been complied with.
That exchange of details is generally done by postal request.
It happens all the time. Sometimes people hit and run. Sometimes they aren't aware they've hit another car.
If the owner of the damage car wants to claim it's left to the insurance to sort out.
You haven't been charged. If you were interviewed and not told you can have free independant legal advice then that interview was not legal.
Get in touch with the local police ask them what is going on.

@Catsick36 perhaps read the thread?

@CallMeCarolDanvers
Just saw your post now. If police are capable of coercing someone for a prang, they are more than capable of stitching up a few Paddy's for mass murder. So no, the comparison is not insulting. As I'm Irish, I'll tell you what's insulting. It's police corruption, which they are capable of at every level.

Is it not as simple as replying to the email saying 'I was at the car park, but did not hit your car. I deny all liability. I understand you may wish to dispute this, but there is no damage to my vehicle, nor did I feel any impact. You are welcome to give your insurers my details'. If you hear any more, tell you insurance company.

The police pressure makes it no more likely your are at fault. Deny, deny, deny. Unless it's a quote for £10 for a touch up kit or something.

So: someone accused you of hitting a car, although you don't think you did. Under pressure from this stranger you left a way for the owner to contact you, even though you don't think you hit the car.

The police didn't contact you at home, using the number you left, or your registration number which the 'witness' could have given them if he was so sure.

The police turn up at the club. The only way they could know you were there was if the 'witness' called them.

You talk to them and they leave you under the impression that you have been charged.

You call the police yourself and they suggest that you pay the owner direct and don't involve the insurance.

It turns out that the owner is one of their colleagues.

Owner police person intimates that if you pay him directly you will not face charges for various 'offences'.

If you didn't hit the car, you didn't commit any of these 'offences'.

How can you even think of not involving your insurance company? This has more red flags than The Railway Children. You don't sound sure how to proceed and the police have left you feeling that one false move can land you in Trouble. At the very least I'd want a chat with my insurer's legal department.

If it were down to me I'd be speaking to my insurers, the CAB, the Law Society, the senior area police person, the Police Ombudsman (email [email protected].
phone 028 9082 8600 (out of office hours 0845 601 2931)) and probably my MP. Just for advice, you understand as the handling of this has left me very distressed and unsure how to proceed.

And I'd be overjoyed at the prospect of a magistrate hearing all this.

I knew there was a police connection in there.... the fact that the officers came to meet you at the club was so odd.

I've bumped into another car maybe three times. When it happens it so big, loud and crunchy that I've been convinced there would be huge damage. These huge feeling collisions have rarely even scratched paint (I've always left a full note though) I really find it hard to believe you would have hit a car and not knownm

I would be escalating this big and hard: At best it's opportunism, at worst it's a proper scam.

I would make the football club aware of what's happened. I'd also be talking a lot to the police station. Don't expect anyone to take responsibility or admit they were wrong, but there's a chance people will get a proper telling off about this behind the scenes.

@amicissimma you've put that really well. Honestly op, I'd really kick off about this, it's shocking.

Police ombudsmen / complaints commission is a great idea.

Don't let this go.

This reminds me...

Many, many years ago, probably about 35 years ago, when I was just a child, we were parked in a nearly empty carpark on a riverbank. We were having a picnic, with the car doors and the boot open. A gentleman entered the carpark, driving a large car, towing (via a not insignificant length of rope) a boat on a trailer. Cue a crashing noise as the boat swung into our car, The gentleman leapt out of his vehicle, accusing my dad of causing the accident by reversing. Despite the engine being off, and the car doors being open. Some people are fucking chancers.

BTW, it's very likely to be a condition of your insurance that you tell the insurance company if you're involved in an accident, even if it's minor and even if there is no claim made.

Trying to sort it out yourself 'to avoid a fuss' could leave you in worse trouble.

If they do have to pay out a small sum, they may let you pay them back before you renew in order to keep your premium down. It's worth asking.

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1

Go on then, I'll bite. Tell us how you knew it

@reallybadidea

I'll tell you how I knew. This whole thing stinks like a kipper. The only way you'd get police involved to this level is if someone was a cop involved.

OP, please listen to amicissimma and use the phone numbers she gives you.

This is misconduct:

• You call the police yourself and they suggest that you pay the owner direct and don't involve the insurance.

• Owner police person intimates that if you pay him directly you will not face charges for various 'offences'.

I bet they've dreamt up this scam and I bet they've done it before - think of all the loot you could make each time by faking crashes, manipulating the 'prepetrator' by intimidating them (yes, they used intimidation on you which is also a case for reporting them) and applying a load of fake never-to-be-actioned 'charges'. I wonder if OP called the police to ask for all the charges listed on the case to be read out, if they actually logged them or not. Bet a bit of data analysis would find other incidents like this where officers a b c and d had all been involved in the 'investigations' intimidation of an innocent person for money.

It stinks to high heaven.

OP seems to have a good instinct for dodginess.
What she needs to do now is what amicissima has outlined.

I'd be calling a solicitor, but that's a whole 'nother ballgame.

That Police Ombudsman number is for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. If you're in England or Wales you want the IOPC. But they'll almost certainly pass it back to your local force to investigate (as will your MP), so you can also use your forces website to complain.

This is as dodgy as fuck OP. But you sensed that anyway. Several things you've said suggest you smelled a rat. For an easy life, pay the cunt whatever damages he's claiming (how much incidentally?) or go to fucking town on the bastards - channel the anxious mess they made you into and get fucking angry with them!!