Police interviewing me as a witness

[JustPoppingToWaitrose]

AIBU for being really nervous?

I reported a crime online to my local police force. It wasn’t a serious crime, I doubt it would even attract a custodial sentence, but I felt that I needed to report it.

This morning, a police officer from a different force contacted me to ask for me to give a statement. He is travelling from another part of the country and told me that he needs approximately 3 hours with me to take the statement. Three hours!

Is it possible that my small crime is related to a much bigger one? I just think that’s a long time. Is this standard? Especially given he is coming from across the country to see me.

I am really nervous. I keep worrying that I have done something wrong. Although I know I haven’t, I am just anxious. Can anyone reassure me please?

Also, will he be allowed to drink tea, eat biscuits, etc? Should I offer him lunch? I have literally never even met a police officer.

Thanks.

I’m a police officer. If your house is clean, tea and biscuits would be massively appreciated. Lunch/doughnuts not necessary.

He’s just making sure he has enough time. He will ask you questions, wrote the statement, ask you to read and check it, and make any changes that you ask for. He should also explain the whole process and answer any questions you have.

@Divebar2021 Are you a police officer? Would it be rude of me to ask him questions about the case? Also, will he be offended if I ask him for ID? I know this sound ridiculous, but I’m worried it could be the perpetrator pretending to be the police, having commandeered a police email address.

Ask for ID, he will have no problem showing it to you at all.

Oooh put your best knickers on in case it's Steve Arnott!

@TheVolturi .

I've also given statements before for work. It really doesn't take long. And they are great at putting you at ease.

@JustPoppingToWaitrose absolutely not rude to ask for ID and he should show it first anyway. I still ask if I have anything to do with other coppers!

@JorisBonson

And also, I sign my emails with my first name, especially for witnesses / victims. Just think it's a little less formal.

I think signing with your first name is fine, but I would want to see your official title and number somewhere on the email.

I was a witness to the getaway from a murder. Horrible.

A police officer visited, took my statement and as I went over it, picked up my brother's juggling balls and started juggling.

It's very informal, you are not a suspect.

I had a police officer travel from London to Edinburgh after I witnessed a car accident in Reading and reported it to the police.

Turned out the people doing the crashing were cash for crash people and the policeman was from organised crime. Was very interesting!

I put on tea and biscuits and he appreciated it!

@CanIGoHomeNowPlease Oh wow! That’s a long way. Were they charged? Did you have to go to court?

Off topic

I think you’re fine with the biscuits but I wouldn’t offer the tea in a pig mug which happened to me once.

I sent my brother (custody Sargent at the time) a pork scratching advent calendar.

I was also questioned by the police as I was living in the same block of flats as a murder suspect.

It did take a long time (nowhere near 3hours) but was very thorough and incredibly mundane.

It will have nothing to do with you and probably means they want to ask you absolutely everything they can think of so they don't miss out any detail, and so they don't have to come back to you.

@JustPoppingToWaitrose

Yes I am. As others have said ask for ID he won’t be offended. I would also ask what he’s investigating and if he can tell you anything he will and if he can’t he won’t, but either way it’s ok.

Please don't worry about it. It's just to make sure they have time to get the whole story without needing to rush you. I've been there and done it (race related crime) and it really wasn't scary. I was also asked to appear in court as a witness for the prosecution, but in the end the guy changed his plea to guilty. (Boy, was he ever guilty). You're doing a good thing. Just make sure you get your share of the tea and biscuits!

Thanks @Divebar2021.

It might also be a very easy day out for him so don’t worry about the distance!

Sugary, greasy donuts might make a mess of the statement. I'd stick with biscuits.

[quote JustPoppingToWaitrose]@Divebar2021 Are you a police officer? Would it be rude of me to ask him questions about the case? Also, will he be offended if I ask him for ID? I know this sound ridiculous, but I’m worried it could be the perpetrator pretending to be the police, having commandeered a police email address.[/quote]
It could be the perpetrator pretending to be the police, commandeered a police email address?

Sounds reasonable to me

I was a witness to a road rage incident. I couldn't get to the police station so they came to see me at work - it was fine. I think it took about an hour or so. They asked for my version of events, asked questions along the way and then asked me to sign my statement.
I think I'm a bit naive but I thought I would actually write out my statement, but not so, the police officer wrote it, I read it and signed when I agreed it was correct.
The officer asked me if I would be prepared to go to court which unnerved me a little, but I said yes - because I'd have hated the perpetrator to have got away with their nasty crime.
The police were great all way through and rang me a few weeks later to let me know that thanks to witnesses coming forward the perpetrator had admitted all.

Are you a police officer? Would it be rude of me to ask him questions about the case? Also, will he be offended if I ask him for ID? I know this sound ridiculous, but I’m worried it could be the perpetrator pretending to be the police, having commandeered a police email address

It’s all but impossible to commandeer a police email. However it is fine to make as many checks as you want. You can phone 101 and ask to verify his identity before the visit, or email him him back and ask rank and position, and of course request ID when he’s there.

First thing to remember is that although Bob is a police officer, he's also a person, just like you and me! Relax and talk to him normally - talk to Bob, not to a uniform or a rank.

I've given scores of statements, although not for a few years. It's good to have someone take it for you, as they will know what the CPS and the court will need, so you should get everything done in one go. I used to write statements as part of my job, and then send them through to the police or NCA, and when I started I used to get a lot of questions back, and then have to add to the statement. Much easier to do it in one go.

@reallyreallyborednow Thanks. I don’t think it’s true, but I’m just very surprised at how seriously they’re taking this.

My son, when he was 13, was set upon and robbed of some money. When the police officer took his statement it turned out that he was one of several victims, some of whom were too frightened of repercussions to be witnesses.

When the matter went to Court my son was one of four who were prepared to face the perpertrators. The lads were found guilty and duly sentenced.

He actually was not frightened of seeing the lads, as he was so angry at what had happened to him. However, afterwards he was rewarded with a great sense of relief that other children would not be attacked by them, at least for the time being.

@Dreamprincess You must be very proud of your son.

I gave a statement after a car crash, the police officer turned up at my home, made polite conversation and took down everything I said.
He was extremely efficient, fast and got everything exactly right.
I am a very quick writer myself, (journalist) but I was impressed.
He might have been here an hour, no more.