AIBU to expect the police not to lock me up because I have severe claustrophobia.

[jojojoeyjojo]

I haven’t actually committed any crimes ..but just watching one of my favourite TV shows …’24 hours in Police Custody’ and idly musing about what would happen if I ever did get arrested. I am severely claustrophobic and if I was locked in a police cell…or ..shudder…the back of a police van I would be a hyperventilating, hysterical wreck. I am normally very calm in a crisis but my irrational phobia of enclosed spaces or being locked in would be my undoing. What would the police do
in this situation. I guess they would still have to lock you up? Or would they be able to make reasonable adjustments..I’m genuinely curious..

If you became too agitated they’re more likely just to sedate you.

From my personal experience, this would take a long time and the detainee could be injured and seriously distressed by this point.

The Custody Sergeant and his team would be responsible for your welfare. They would be able to do some things to help, maybe let you spend more time in the exercise yard with an officer or expedite your time at the station. If you had a solicitor in advance you could perhaps be interviewed under caution without being arrested, they would also push for you to be bailed to go back another day if things took too long.

The police would probably think you were lying to avoid arrest if you spoke about your claustrophobia. Police hear more lies than there are on a box set of Would I lie to You.

Watch malpractice, series 2 on ITVX. Series one was good, series 2 is maternity and psychiatric care.
As said, most police holding stations have a glass box, although if you are arrested at the same time as a vulnerable teen/very pregnant woman etc, you'll be second choice for it. Most prisoners bang/shout/hyperventilate etc, especially thise on drugs, so they'll watch you and eventually medicate.

Feel free to try 21 hours locked up in a police cell for something you didn’t do and then comment! So, obviously, there was the betrayal by my adopted daughter who I have supported through thick and thin for 17 years of difficulty, the absolute terror when the cell door slammed, the worry about how bad things could get if AD1 persisted in her lies, the lack of any dignity (cameras on and lights on at all times, having to press a buzzer to request a few sheets of loo roll every time I needed to use the loo, a metre from my bed), the extreme feelings of claustrophobia and helplessness, the not knowing the time of day or night, not being able to breathe any fresh air, not having any autonomy over my own life any more, and, the worry about my AD2( then 8) who was left sobbing as I was put in the back of a police car, the absolute unrelenting boredom, the irrational fear that WW3 could break out and I would be trapped in the cell for ever as no one would ever find me, the realisation that everyone would think - borne out here - that there is no smoke without fire, the constant screaming, shouting and banging on cell doors by other detainees, the just not knowing what was going on in the world, the not really knowing what lies AD1 had told and the waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting to be interviewed under caution with a duty solicitor who could basically give no fucks even though it felt like my life was in his hands.

It’s a bad sign for your critical thinking skills, yes.

@ThePieceHallI would really struggle to have a relationship with my daughter after that.

I worry about something related….i have a frozen shoulder so couldn’t manage handcuffs behind my back. I can’t physically move my arm there, I assume if a police officer moved my arm they could force it into place but I’d be in agony. I can’t wipe my arse with that hand it’s so bad and I’m nearly in tears getting undressed.

Would they agree to handcuff me with my arms at the front? 😁

I suffer from extreme agoraphobia and have been practically housebound for the past 9 years. Can only travel a very very short distance from my house.
I actually had a conversation about this with an (off-duty) copper once, again just out of interest. I asked that if I were ever arrested, would my agoraphobia be taken into account and could any special provisions be made le holding and interviewing me from my home instead of taking me to the station?
he laughed and the words he said were ‘ha, honestly, no. If the police ever had reason to arrest you … You would just be dragged out the house kicking and screaming.’

Definitely, friend of mine is a custody Sargent and I remember them saying once every other person “develops” claustrophobia when arrested, ie they’re trying it on. I do also remember them saying though about keeping the cell door open with someone on cell watch immediately outside for very vulnerable individuals so guess it depends how convincing you are as to whether you get that or not.

@ThePieceHall I didn’t mean to offend. Whilst I can imagine it being an awful experience (as you so describe) I genuinely wanted to understand why you felt it would have a lifelong physical and mental impact. Having said that, I also could never forgive someone who falsely accused me - so that I do fully understand.

Agreed! There’s always one who derails every thread by trying to force their culture wars shite into every situation. It is like they have nothing else to say/do.

Yes, agreed, I can barely stand to look at her. She is in a 36-week residential college placement, far from home. She has arrived home for the summer holidays today. No doubt we will have the police out within the week when she kicks off and becomes violent, including trying to push her much younger sister down a full flight of stairs.

Bless you 😂

As a kid we got a tour of the local police station. I'm not claustrophobic by the way.
The cell was quite nice, it was quiet which I liked but I would have needed the fluorescent light off. I didn't mind having my hands cuffed in front of me either.
We were also locked in the prison van. Oh my god, that was absolutely terrifying.

It's an occupational hazard of being a criminal so make wise choices.

A bit like don't get a job as cabin crew if you have a fear of flying

what else do they do? They’re not going to release criminals or suspects back onto the street because they don’t like a cell. Otherwise every criminal on earth would suffer from claustrophobia.

As I will keep repeating, I was arrested and detained on a false allegation. I made no lifestyle choice. Other than to adopt a child with heritable psychiatric disorders.

Don't be daft @jojojoeyjojo If you were suspected of a crime serious enough that the police judged you should be in a cell, they'd put you there, with regular observations.

Just stay legal!

@ThePieceHall - you're a modern day saint. I imagine my saying this is cold comfort and you are just getting through day by day, but I wanted to salute you

The police broke down our door once. I was on my own with dd (age 1) and ds (newborn) and fast asleep at around 5am. They broke the door down and came charging in. To this day I don’t know how I didn’t have a heart attack.

They had mixed up the names of where we lived. We lived at 11c Name Road and they wanted 11c Name Gardens which was just round the corner.

Never even got an apology. They just left and went to the right address!

I enjoyed this

Oh love, I'm so sorry.
I am about to embark upon a career as a foster carer and find this situation terrifying.

Have you considered EMDR therapy, it is meant to help with trauma/PTSD.

They do take into account mental health and the potential to self harm so I would think a doctor would be called.