Is this a stupid thing to do?

[CrowsEyeView]

I was just on the phone to 101 reporting something non-urgent, and suddenly decided I was going to report what was IMO an assault at a police station about 10 years ago.

I looked into it previously as a complaint but seemed the time limit had passed. It was a horrible experience and it was only with some distance I wanted to complain.

I guess you wouldn’t class it as a ‘serious’ assault. It was in full view of the main desk. I’d been taken in as a formality as someone I lived in a shared house with had been arrested. (I didn’t really know them.)

I was waiting to be spoken to and without warning and without saying anything a police officer walked across the room and grabbed my trousers by the waist band, pulled them open and looked down at my underwear. When I asked (politely but shaken) that they let me know what they were going to do before they do it, the police officer sneered and laughed at me. The whole station had a weird goady tone. This was done in full view of a room of people.

I was just waiting to be put through on 101, and it suddenly occurred to me that if I need help from the police in future, this might put me in an unfavourable position. I’ve heard first hand accounts of people reporting DV and stalking by police officers, and finding their subsequent treatment by the police – which has included harassment – as distressing as the initial crime.

Generally, my experience of the police has been good. Would I be putting myself in harm’s way for no good reason by reporting this? I’m fine, I’m not living with ongoing distress or trauma. It was extremely unpleasant at the time, I don’t think it should have happened, and I wouldn’t wish for anyone else to experience similar. It was relatively minor, but what was troubling was that it seemed designed to provoke and upset and was obviously part of a culture where it was considered acceptable (there was clearly no expectation of any comeback).

WIB unwise to go ahead and report it? Would I be making an enemy of the police? (Or at least setting myself up for unsympathetic treatment if I need assistance in future)

YABU - Report it
YANBU - Concerns with reporting are valid

i wouldn’t bother

I think it would just be an utter waste of your time.

I wouldn't bother unless you have all the details, including the name of the police officer.

I guess what you've got to weigh up is if you think it would be worth your time.
Basically if they're going to pricede with it, they're going to want some sort of proof more than your word. I'm guessing that there will be no evidence because it was so long ago.
So do you still want to go ahead bearing that in mind? Up to you

Why bother 10 years later? Let it go.

I don't think you're unreasonable either way. That's awful.

Whilst what happened was very unpleasant, 10 years is a long time. As others have said, unless you have got a name, or someone to back up your claim, it's very unlikely that anything will come of it.

Wouldn't bother..when l was 30 back in 1988.. l was out one sat night with my friend in town.. a few pubs then hopefully a night club.
A guy in a pub came up to me from behind while l was waiting to be served... put his hands up my skirt and pulled my knickers down.. him and his friends laughing..
Police patrolled the town on weekends.... so l went and told two of them who were stood together a F and a M.
The M officer laughed the F officer said.. that's what you get for coming out in a short skirt.
Hopefully things have changed.

I assumed the police station would have CCTV.

I hadn’t really planned to report it, I just decided on a whim that I would. Even just to have on record (not necessarily with a view to taking it further).

Can you imagine being in any other context and someone doing that.

I don’t think you’re unreasonable but I don’t think you’ll achieve anything so far down the line.

Jesus Christ that’s horrendous on both counts.

I probably wouldn't bother. I think you have little to gain from doing so. I do think it was obviously a very unacceptable thing to happen to you though. If you'd said it was a few weeks/months ago I'd be saying report it.

Well that's fair enough if you're not necessarily wanting to take it further and just have it on record.

They probably do have CCTV but I just meant that the CCTV has probably gone now as it was so long ago. I'm guessing

Absolutely report this it’s assault

This sort for behaviour escalates and this is exactly the sort of behaviour the police are now trying to stamp out

i am sure when you think about it you shall remember more details and they can be put together with records of who was on shift, it may not go anywhere but please do not think you are wasting time

It sounds like an awful thing to happen but, after ten years, what could be done?

Yeah I think at the time it just felt a bit too close for comfort – I didn’t want to deal with the police again about it. The experience was intimidating.

A few years later I looked into complaining, but was too late for a complaint (think you had maybe a year).

Just occurred to me on the phone to report it via 101. Wouldn’t have any expectation of any particular outcome or result. Would probably just leave it as a report. The reason I put the phone down was because it occurred to me it might result in unsympathetic treatment if I need assistance from the police in future.

I’m so sorry that happened to you, unbelievably awful, just the worst that people who undertook the jobs they did could be so horrible. Huge huge hugs op xxxxxx

Theres nothing to gain from it 10 years on just let it be.
No point in starting new drama with old crap from the past.

If you have to deal with the police again, why not mention that you feel a little anxious and mistrustful due to an assault by a police officer. They should pick up on that and invite you to say more if you want to. I agree with others there will be little in the way of an outcome. But they will have to record it and it will go towards the complaint stats rather than remain a hidden assault.

They won't have CCTV footage from 10 years ago I'm afraid.