Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Horst · 19/05/2021 19:52

Glad it went ok. I’m given my fair share of statements due to my neighbour one of the most odd yet outing during a fatal stabbing incident I was asked if said neighbour had access to my internet and if I knew who her provider was or if she even had one.

I still don’t know why but she appears to be a bit of a snitch whilst also being one to bring all the trouble iykwim. Every time an officer knocks at my door I kinda laugh and say so what’s she done now.

DreamTheMoors · 19/05/2021 20:40

@Waspie

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

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 .

California here.

Had a “friend” camping out on our sofa 35 years ago. One evening, two policemen rang and I invited them in. They promptly “read him his rights” and arrested him.
He had turned his car around in the middle of the street and side-swiped the entire side of a car parked on the opposite side of the street. The neighbor’s car was covered in his car’s blue paint.
He expected us first to lie for him, and second, to bail him out of jail.
I’m happy to report that that was the easiest way to get a freeloader out of our flat.
Good riddance, and there was never time to offer refreshments.

masterblaster · 19/05/2021 22:41

@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.

It’s fine. I gave a statement a few years ago, very chill. Civic duty stuff!
Purplealienpuke · 19/05/2021 22:41

I am part of a group of people involved in a grim historic case going back 30 years. The police force dealing with it are in England, I'm not.
They sent two very lovely DCs all the way to me to take my statement. They were with me for several hours.
I provided hot drinks and biscuits.
Don't feel intimidated, they just want a statement from you in your words with all the details you can remember.
I found it useful to write down what I remembered before they arrived.
You'll be fine 💐

masterblaster · 19/05/2021 22:43

@Purplealienpuke

I am part of a group of people involved in a grim historic case going back 30 years. The police force dealing with it are in England, I'm not. They sent two very lovely DCs all the way to me to take my statement. They were with me for several hours. I provided hot drinks and biscuits. Don't feel intimidated, they just want a statement from you in your words with all the details you can remember. I found it useful to write down what I remembered before they arrived. You'll be fine 💐
Mine was assault on a policeman, and I’m sad enough to have written down everything I remembered, on the tube on the way home.

I then lost my notes. Yay star witness for the prosecution.

PollyPepper · 19/05/2021 22:52

@NoProblem123

Don’t be on your own with Bob.
Oh do shut up
BeaLola · 19/05/2021 23:46

I had to give a statement once having been burgled and disturbing the burglar

Then I had to do a more detailed statement about an item left by the burglar - followed by an even more detailed statement many months later after one of the burglars was caught on another crime about the item as the Cps were thinking of dropping the case - policeman was with me the last time fir about 1.5 hours - they drank my tea /are biscuits and did a really good job

Burglar went to prison

GiveUsACoffee · 19/05/2021 23:49

@sashh

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.

We bumped into officers in our estate, and I stopped to ask if everything was alright. We were on our way to the farm, and I kid you not, my toddler made piggy noises at them, as we had been practicing them just moments earlier. I was mortified
Sweetpea1532 · 20/05/2021 02:01

@GiveUsACoffee

😂😂😂

Has your toddler grown into a proper lawabiding citizen now?
Toddlers always have a way of keeping us on our toes, don't they?Grin

Gensola · 20/05/2021 02:04

@GiveUsACoffee I can’t sleep after surgery today and that has cheered me right up 😂😂

House2home21 · 20/05/2021 04:44

Yes to your first question and second, although they probably won’t take a biscuit, no to lunch.

House2home21 · 20/05/2021 04:45

@GiveUsACoffee Jesus 😭, toddlers.

Divebar2021 · 20/05/2021 09:20

The only time I ever ate lunch anywhere on duty was while taking a statement in a fancy bakery. I was sitting in the kitchen and this chef rustled me up quiche and salad. It was the best quiche I ever had. ( I think they sent me off with a pastry too). I dare say I’d been disciplined for that now.

whineochoc · 20/05/2021 09:31

I've been interviewed twice; once on a night out when myself and a friend witnessed a brutal attack. I was only 18 at the time. Had been drinking and was heading home. We called the police as the lady was badly beaten. The police took us to the station and on the way there another incident happened right in front of the car, so both myself and my friend were left in the car whilst they police officers jumped out and gave chase. That was unnerving as we were locked in. Giving the statement was fine did take a couple of hours. The lift home at 5am in the police car was scary I was praying no one saw me Confused
Second time I uncovered fraud at work, found some colleagues who had been making cash deposits into an account and then withdrawing to their own bank accounts. I had to give a statement then too. Again that took a few hours as the police ask such minute details.
Both times I felt nervous but I knew I had done nothing wrong and both times the police officers were friendly and made me feel at ease.
I'm a bit like you OP though, soon as I see a police officer I instantly feel guilty like I've done something HmmGrin

Orangesand · 20/05/2021 09:54

I was a witness once to a flasher.

I reported it to the police and had to go and give a statement at the police station.

It was a bit awkward when the officer asked me if the man was circumcised 😖 I panicked and also gave the rough penis size (which they absolutely did not ask for!) 😂

Eventually after some time some other ladies must have reported it too and the police called me to update me that they had identified the man and were progressing it forward.

The one tip I would give you is to not feel flustered if they ask you something you don't remember well. It is better to be honest and say 'I don't remember that aspect'.

Good luck OP.

Orangesand · 20/05/2021 09:59

Oh also, one more tip. If you took any pictures on your phone or anything... be prepared that they may want to have your phone for a while.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread