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 think this is all really weird.

Call the non emergency police number. I've found them very clear and helpful in the past.

Is it a private car park or public land?

I was wondering this - often parking is at your own risk in these places and police won't touch it unless there has been injury to one or more persons, or the damage inflicted was deliberate.

I forgot to add that once the cops had found us and understood that we’d made a legitimate attempt to leave our details they were not remotely interested in laying blame - they just left us and the two insurance companies to get on with it.

This is very odd. I would call police and speak to them, explain you got very worked up so can't remember what police told you and get it explained again.

If they had your number plate they could have contacted you at home via the dvla database. Why would they wait 2 weeks?

Yesthisis me. She did not get a phone call, they turned up at the club. Please read the thread.

If you have house insurances you may be entitled of a 30 mins free legal consultation. Have a look at your policy xxx

Have you left anything out? This just seems so minor. Like I wouldn't even worry about it

This doesn't sit right. Someone hit my car recently and drove off. I had a picture of their car and when I reported it to the police I was told they would write to the owner of the car to ask who was driving and that they had 28 days to reply.

Turns out it was uninsured and the registered owner doesn't exist but that another story!

Can you try to think what the police said to you? Did they ask you to go in for questioning, did they say you were under arrest, did they give you any details?

It won’t come under your household legal insurance because that usually excludes motor but you may be covered under a motor legal protection extension on your car insurance.

And yes my example isn’t identical to the OP’s but illustrates that the police may indeed be interested in people who fail to put their hands up for parking incidents.

Do you live in Noddyland or something?! The chances of getting a police car with two officers turning out for something like this would be a flat zero % in most places!

That is the full story of what happened. It does just seem unbelievably dramatic for a tap (if that) in a car park.

Are you going to contact the non emergency number then OP?

I think they just read the rights thing ‘what you say may be given in evidence’ and listed about 3 offences I think - I can recall something about failure to stop and report an accident

We can't even get the police out for burglaries any more. Crime must be very low where you live to send 2 officers for a non damage prang.

If this is the full story, I don't understand why you are getting so worked up about it ?

You need to get more savvy op. Dont get stressed out just because police spoke to you. Dont allow mennto tell you what has or hasnt happened when you know the truth. I dont know why youd just put a note on a ransom car without actually knowing which car the man meant.
It's all a bit weird but calm the fuck down. Nothing will happen..

This all sounds very strange.
If all they had was your registration number, name and address, how did they know who you were when they turned up at the club? And why not go to your house?
I think aggressive man has scammed you. I would ring the police and ask for a crime number or some kind of reference number, and the names of the officers who spoke to you.
My guess is that they’ll never have heard of you.

This all sounds mental! Hardly a police matter!

Ok I have phoned 101. Took the lady a while to locate the incident. Couldn’t find it with my name or Reg. Finally found it by looking for the location, said that there were a lot of officers listed as dealing with it but said that she would email the latest officer detailing it asking him to ring me. She was lovely even though I was being pathetic and was crying a lot

Wouldn't say you've much to worry about but you did say you were struggling into the space but your sensors didn't activate. Don't know what car you drive but mine start bleeping waaaaayyy before I am close to any obstruction. Could it be that your sensors are faulty and perhaps you hit something by mistake? if you were struggling to get into a space the sensors would have sounded albeit briefly? Next time leave your name and address and phone no and take a photo of both the letter and its position on the screen as well as any damage.

Take a deep breath, no one goes to prison for a car park shunt even if one happened, that really isn't going to happen.

I assume you've spoken to 101 now and found out a bit more.

Does anyone remember a thread recently where the OP had police come to her house and the details were very similar, I don't think I saw the outcome if there was one. iirc the general view was that police don't get involved in minor car prangs in that way, odd that it's happened to someone else

How did the police men identify you 2 weeks later? Bizzare!