The Police

[ThisCalmUmberCrab]

I’m having a hard time with the local police.

My father has an ongoing civil dispute and I understand the police not getting involved in that element, but he’s had some property stolen. We have pictures of the person taking the items and then placing them in a storage container.

I didn’t agree that this wasn’t a criminal offence so attended the police station and the sergeant reviewed the body cam footage and agreed with us. So he gave us a crime reference number.

A few days later there is another incident and the police are called out. Attending police officer advised me that I am incorrect about the theft - basically 101 said that after 7 days I could report it as a theft. So, we’d arranged a call to my father as he’s old and unwell at 7am on a Monday morning. They never called.

The police officer attending cancelled the call and closed the crime reference number.

Since then we have an admission in writing that this guy ‘broke and removed locks’ and ‘relocated my dad’s property’. Yes - he actually stated that and sent it to our solicitor! Made calls out but nothing is happening.

I’m not going to let this one go, but what do I do when we can’t even get to make a statement to the police?

Well if you have a solicitor involved can’t you ask them for advice?

Is this person a family member?

Is this a family member or someone known to him?

If so it's a domestic dispute rather than a criminal matter. Disagreements between family members aren't normally a police matter unless there is violence etc.

The solicitor is probably the best person to advise.

Get in touch with your Police and Crime commissioner

They’re not a family member.

The Solicitor isn’t best placed to advise as he deals with civil matters only.

Did the other person intend to permanently deprice your dad of his property. Or has he moved something to a different location as a result of the civil dispute.

He'll know exactly how to find out though.

Theft is more complicated than simply taking something.

there’s issues around:
did the person have permission? Implied or given, if the person was a family member etc of the item was a parcel left on the porch and someone moved it to the back garden etc.

also for theft I believe it has to be intent to permanently deprive which is why there is a separate offence of eg taking cars that are not yours, going driving in them and then putting them back (“joy riding”)

Sorry if I’m a bit confused - How do you have bodycam pictures of the property removal or were you there at the time?
has your solicitor has been advised where the property is?
it does sound like a civil matter tbh but maybe you have more info to share?

I was confused about the bodycam too.

Same, were police in attendance and it's their bodycam?

Without the full details (and there will no doubt be another side to this story too) it's hard to give advice but this does sound like it is a civil dispute rather than criminal.

A dispute over ownership of items or disputed rights to enter property etc are civil matters.

You will be better off engaging with the solicitor & the other parties than entering into a further dispute with the police.