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..

You're not the only one with this fear. I'm hugely claustrophobic, I often scare myself thinking about being wrongly convicted of a crime. I once told my colleague about it and she shares the same fear!

I assume that is why she is calling her ‘adopted daughter’ rather than ‘daughter’. I guess the 8 year old has done something as well as she was also referred to as adopted

It’s weird how the majority of people on here are of the no smoke without fire mindset. I’m glad that you have also illustrated just how easy it can be for someone to detonate a hand grenade into your life. Can I ask, how did your situation end?

You see this kind of thing on Interceptor type programmes all the time, where someone screams and cries and writhes around in agony when they're being arrested, or claims to be panicking and hypterventilating. They don't do anything differently, other than perhaps getting them checked medically.

Different forces have different protocols. Force near me will only cuff to the front

No. Self harm and panic attacks are frequent occurrences and not definitely sectionable for. As @TheCurious0range said then all defendants have things they can have self harm with removed as standard. They are in the care of the police and they have a duty of care to all.

Additional observations may be used and some more modern police stations have lots of CCTV. Some stations also have clear doors

When people mention “calling a doctor”, what for. Doctors aren’t based in police stations. There are nurses but there might be 1 shared across a wide geographical area and number of stations. Nurses can prescribe something but this may in turn make the person not fit for interview. If a Mental Health Act or section 136 is required then a referral would need to be completed and may well be declined. Even if accepted there will be a wait for the sectioning team and a space in a 136 space or bed. Can easily go on for a few days.

PS even if the Mental Health Act assessment goes ahead then the person still may not be sectioned if both the doctors don’t agree and may just continue to follow the police processes I.e. interview, charge or not charge, remand or bail etc. There are no quick fixes or “get rid it of jail free” if you like

Before they even interviewed me they said if I admitted it I could 'get away' with a caution.

Then they threatened to confiscate all my employers' computers (it was a college).

After 2 weeks they 'released' me from bail.

A complaint was investigated by an inspector and the arresting officer had some form of official telling off.

I drank enough to damage my liver and had a couple of panic attacks when I encounter police officers.

PP was an answer to @ThePieceHall.

Definitely dog would stay with you on a flight

How does that work if you are banging your head against the wall.

Can’t exactly have your head removed

if anything they are extra cunty, I know of somebody who was in a cell and the officer went in put his arms around her gave her a hug and his hand on her leg. This was a young woman
She asked him to remove his hand from her leg and it really went very downhill from there

Was this anything to do with gender wars, by any chance? When I was being released, the custody sergeant ‘made a mistake’ and told me I was being cautioned. I said I would not accept a caution and they were welcome to rearrest me. I had done nothing wrong but I was also aware that police cautions will show up on DBS checks and prevent travel to certain countries. The custody sergeant then corrected his ‘mistake’ and told me I was being released on short bail pending further inquiries.

Interestingly, I had a visit yesterday from two fellow adopter parents, one of whom was recently arrested on a false allegation of intent to kill one of their very troubled and wayward teens.

😂😂😂

Judging by what little is on these records, it wouldn’t matter if you did actually have a diagnosis, it would be hit and miss if it was on there

What about those that don’t commit crimes but are arrested

You mean like 70% of the prison population?

I am very sorry to hear of the horrible experiences of those who have been wrongfully accused of a crime and arrested. That must compound the fear and anxiety hundred-fold and I can imagine take a long time to get over.

i know from when someone was locked up with claustrophobia its not a get out clause. at most they may take you to hospital to be checked but in this case the person had a Dr arrive who gave them a sedative injection so they could sleep until released with a caution in the morning

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

That's terrible! I'm so sorry that you had to experience that. And I hope that your daughter never does that again. Absolutely traumatic.

Are you comparing people who have been convicted of a crime and found guilty by a jury to any person who has been arrested?

I feel we should be concerned about the number of people - including those working in these situations - who think that only people who have committed crimes get arrested. Especially when, according to our legal system, all of these people are innocent until proven guilty.

Some people who are arrested are innocent, some are found not guilty (there is an important difference here) and some are found guilty, these are court outcomes. Police custody processes apply to all of them in exactly the same way, or should custody sergeants be second guessing who gets what treatment based on perceived guilt or innocence?

You stated "Most people don't commit crime because they can't stand the thought of the consequences to others and themselves.... Incarceration included" implying that the way to avoid the situation OP is describing is not to commit crime.

When asked about innocent people, you said "You mean like 70% of the prison population?" which I assumed to be you expressing scepticism about the person's innocence.

Of course I do not think the police should decide or treat people differently. I think they should treat everyone as if they're innocent because they haven't been found guilty yet.

As part of being arrested, of course procedures need to be followed.. However, this thread is full of people referring to anyone who has been arrested as 'criminals', stories of ill-treatment, and advice to 'not get arrested'. In response to OPs concerns, people are saying that the unpleasantness is deserved because the person in this situation has committed a crime.

Surely if we're innocent until proven guilty, we should all agree that unpleasantness should be avoided besides what is necessary for the correct procedures to be followed? Incarceration as a deterrent is not relevant to those who have not yet been found guilty.

They need to reintroduce the laughing emoji. This is so funny.

I'm really sorry, that's horrible on so many levels.