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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Police interviewing me as a witness

141 replies

JustPoppingToWaitrose · 18/05/2021 09:19

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.

OP posts:

2me2u2u2me · 18/05/2021 15:57

[quote ReginaTheEvilQueen]@JustPoppingToWaitrose if your allowed someone there for moral support & steve arnott does turn up give me a yell, im in kent but happy to travel 😂 [/quote]
Piss funny

2me2u2u2me · 18/05/2021 16:00

OP, you're probably not going to get through this meeting without sniggering about some of the comments on here, brilliant haha

ItsCokeFFS · 18/05/2021 16:06

@2me2u2u2me

OP, you're probably not going to get through this meeting without sniggering about some of the comments on here, brilliant haha

Even better if the police officer taking the statement reads MN and has seen this thread

waitingforthenextseason · 18/05/2021 16:13

I'm sure it will be fine.

Waspie · 18/05/2021 16:23

Definitely tea and biscuits. Coffee and donuts are for American police

I've given witness statements twice and both times the officers were very nice and do their best to put you at your ease because they realise you are nervous.

My first witness statement was when I was in an armed robbery 30 years ago. I remember that the manager went to the kitchen to make a round of tea for everyone - 4 staff, umpteen customers and 3 police officers. He walked back with a tray of mugs but he was shaking so badly most of the tea was all over the tray. I think the adrenaline has worn off and he'd gone into "christ, I've just been in an armed robbery" mode .

Purplewithred · 18/05/2021 16:25

I had to give a witness statement following a very serious car accident that was going to court. I was very nervous. A lovely man from an external agency who do all the witness statements came and chatted. We did have tea and biscuits. We spoke for probably an hour and a half.

After he left I realised I had muddled up Left and Right. All the way through.

Mortified.

mainsfed · 18/05/2021 16:27

Coffee and cherry pie.

notanothertakeaway · 18/05/2021 16:27

I gave a statement once, in a fraud case. It took ages, because we had to discuss / agree every word to ensure it was accurate, in case the case went to court. And I assume they come to the house to check that you are genuine and do live there. But the police officer was friendly and not at all intimidating

Neonprint · 18/05/2021 16:28

I witnessed a crime once years ago. Somone put somone else's window in on the street next to us. The police called round to do my statement at 11.30 pm one night. I asked my police officer friend why so late and short notice. He said they were probably at a key point on the investigation.

Anyway it took bloody ages as they take ages getting everything right. But you have nothing to worry about.

Original poster

JustPoppingToWaitrose · 19/05/2021 13:36

Well, he came and left with a statement and all the evidence I could provide. I am happy to say that he drank my tea so my house is obviously not a shithole .

He was such an interesting person. He had been a DCI in the Met and was brought out of retirement to work on this case.

I think my evidence was useful. He said I may be required to attend a line-up and go to court in 1-2 years.

Thanks for all your help. I really do appreciate it.

OP posts:

FatCatThinCat · 19/05/2021 13:38

Brought out of retirement to work on this case? Does that mean it's a biggie?

Divebar2021 · 19/05/2021 14:00

I’m impressed a former DCI wound remember how to write a statement.

RainbowRaine · 19/05/2021 14:20

FatCatThinCat
Perhaps a cold case and he was the original officer in charge.

Fyredraca · 19/05/2021 14:54

Sounds like a drama plot.

DistrictCommissioner · 19/05/2021 15:02

@Hopeisnotastrategy

OP why not just say when you welcome Bob in, "I've never done anything like this before, I'm feeling a bit nervous?" Bring it out in the open and I'm sure he'll reassure you!

You haven't done this before, but Bob has and he'll make sure everything's fine. Good luck.

This is what I always tell myself (not about being interviewed by the police specifically!), I’ve not done it before but they have & they know what to do.

Bluntness100 · 19/05/2021 15:11

Op ,lots of retired officers do work where they are hired to take statements, interview witnesses etc, it’s like consultancy work and relatively low paid., it frees up the actual polices time. Are you sure that’s not what he was doing?

Original poster

JustPoppingToWaitrose · 19/05/2021 15:17

@Bluntness100 Yes, I think that is right. I don’t think it’s a particularly big case, but it is an interesting one nonetheless.

OP posts:

Peppermintpatty24 · 19/05/2021 17:28

I think the 3 hours is standard. I was told 3 hours, and it was, when reporting a historical crime.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 19/05/2021 18:05

Bob the Bobby?
I think it’s all a hoax op and the accused is coming to find out what you know, and eat your doughnuts.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 19/05/2021 18:13

I reported where I had seen a youth dispose of a large knife once, he was running and agitated and stashed the knife, I was in my car. It was right outside the school I work in and next door to the PRU that he attended.
Never again.
I had to give two statements, take a day off to attend court on 2 separate occasions and each one was cancelled after we’d been there for hours.
AND after agreeing I could have a screen as I walk past his PRU twice daily for work - they put me in the same waiting room as him the first time so he would have recognised me the next time I was walking to work. The second court date came snd it was cancelled as he was already in custody from a week before for something else - but nobody had thought to cancel the court case, the police were at his home looking for him!
Never again would I get involved unless it was something so awful that I had no choice.

Tzimi · 19/05/2021 18:38

[quote JustPoppingToWaitrose]@Seeline I was thinking of getting some doughnuts in but I don’t want him to think I’m taking the piss .[/quote]
Offer him pork scratchings

rainyskylight · 19/05/2021 18:41

Honestly it just takes them 3 hours to type. They are so slow.

MrsHayds · 19/05/2021 19:01

Yes offer him tea and biscuits 😊 my husband is a police officer and I know he would appreciate that if offered. Remember police officers are people too

Shona52 · 19/05/2021 19:31

Try not to worry so much op. They have a set process taking statements it might not take that long but they don't want to rush anything so they always give loads of time for this. A cuppa and a biscuit would be fine. They won't be expecting anything.

Remember your helping them xx

WorkHardPlayHard1 · 19/05/2021 19:42

@JustPoppingToWaitrose

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

@TheVolturi .

Absolutely love it! Especially as he was known for being a right shagger!! Lol

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