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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Police incident advice

55 replies

JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:29

I was on a mini break in early August and to cut a very long story short I was witness to quite a violent attack. A report was filed to the police and I gave descriptions of the attackers.

Not heard anything since night, so put the incident to the back of my mind. But tonight I had a phone call from their local police dept, asking to go back to help identify the suspects (a police line up sort of thing)

Anyway they want me to go to local police station, which is a good 3/4 hour drive from my house. My AIBU is to feel that the police/authority should cover travel expenses? I need to take a day off work and pay for petrol etc.

Wondered if anyone else had been in a similar situation? AIBU for wanting to ask the police who covers expenses? Or would this not even be an option?

Thanks all.

Just to clarify the incident did not involve me - I was merely a witness who spoke to police at the crime scene.

OP posts:
Lollypop4 · 27/09/2020 19:33

I'd be unable to attend, its too far away, I'd have to take time off work and cover childcare, I also simply Could'nt afford to go at this moment.
I think you should tell the police station as to wanting costs covered amd I would ask.

Original poster
JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:34

@Lollypop4 is it not rude to ask if expenses will be covered? I feel massively cheeky!

OP posts:
sidesplittinglol · 27/09/2020 19:35

Can it not be done virtually?

RunningFromInsanity · 27/09/2020 19:36

Your nearest police station is 3/4hours away?

Littlefish · 27/09/2020 19:38

Is it 3-4 hours away, or three quarters of an hour away?

Anyway, I think you should do it if you possibly can, whether expenses are paid or not.

This is obviously not a minor case. You said yourself it was violent. Surely you would like to see a violent offender brought to justice?

If you really can't afford it, then you should ask if expenses are possible.

TheQueef · 27/09/2020 19:38

Ask them to do it at your closest open station.

Original poster
JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:38

@sidesplittinglol no - I have to be there for recording purposes.

@runningfrominsanity I have to go to the police station in the area I holidayed in, as that was where the incident happened. Their local police station.

OP posts:
Hingeandbracket · 27/09/2020 19:39

Is this in the UK? Because we don’t have Police departments here.

Original poster
JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:39

@Littlefish I absolutely want to see them bought to justice. But sadly I don't earn loads of money, so the petrol etc is a dent in my monthly paycheck.

It is about 3 or 4 hours, perhaps more than 4 if traffic is bad.

OP posts:
Frappuccinofan · 27/09/2020 19:39

@RunningFromInsanity

Your nearest police station is 3/4hours away?
The first sentence says she was on a mini break so presumably her local station is irrelevant as she wasn’t at home?
Original poster
JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:40

@Hingeandbracket yes, in the UK. The phone call was from their local police station, in the town where the attack happened.

OP posts:
Original poster
JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:41

@TheQueef this didn't even occur to me. Thank you. I will ask if it can be somehow done in the police station near me, or nearest city.

OP posts:
Frappuccinofan · 27/09/2020 19:44

The police should have asked if it would be okay for you to attend, can you call the officer back?

If not, call 101 and ask them to get the officer to contact you

TheQueef · 27/09/2020 19:44

They sometimes like a nice drive Wink if possible they will accommodate you.

Awrite · 27/09/2020 19:46

Why don't you tell them that you can't afford the petrol?

Also, can it be done on one if your non working days so that you don't have to take a holiday?

RunningFromInsanity · 27/09/2020 19:46

It said ‘they want me to go to a local police station’ hence why I assumed it was just any local station.

Either they pay expenses, or they do it at a local one to you/virtually.

I’m sure why I got asked to be a witness, they asked if I had any expenses ie child care/travel that would need to be covered for me to attend court. Maybe they offer the same.

Original poster
JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:46

@Frappuccinofan I'll definitely call him back. I didn't give a definitive answer on the phone; he asked me to ring back in a day or two. But my conscience would be shot if I didn't go due to petrol expenses! Might bike it there, haha.

OP posts:
Original poster
JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:49

@runningfrominsanity oops- my mistake. That is meant to say "their" local police station 🤦‍♀️

I'll give the officer a call back tomorrow and see what they say. I just feel cheeky asking about expensesBlush

OP posts:
Squintybumcheek · 27/09/2020 19:50

DH had to give a witness statement at a police station about 5 hours away ( somewhere he had been working) and he got expenses paid. It was a good few years ago now though so not sure if that's changed.

Original poster
JalapenoDave · 27/09/2020 19:53

@Awrite no sadly it can only be done during the week.

@Squintybumcheek thanks for this - hopefully the same ruling still applies Smile

OP posts:
Plussizejumpsuit · 27/09/2020 19:56

I'd ask if you really can't afford it. If just write the day off work as doing the right thing. Some work places have days off for legal matters.

doctorhamster · 27/09/2020 20:00

I think you'll just have to be honest with them and see what they say. It's a long way to travel!

frumpety · 27/09/2020 20:06

Fairly sure they give you travel expenses for this scenario and for court if you need to go. However it would make more sense to be able to do this part at a local station if possible, it is done digitally now, so should be possible ?

Talia99 · 27/09/2020 20:07

Almost all ID parades are done on video these days. You would usually be shown clips of people fitting the description of the attacker and asked to say which person you saw. I can see no reason why it shouldn’t be done at your local ID suite (which may not be your closest police station but will be a lot closer than 3 to 4 hours away).

This might be a hassle for the police to arrange since it will require making arrangements with your local force but that doesn’t mean they should get to transfer all the effort and difficulty to you.

Frappuccinofan · 27/09/2020 20:10

I think the police should be able to accommodate you. Are they aware that you’re not a permanent resident of their local area?