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Original poster

Question about being arrested

70 replies

lesleyb2k1 · 11/05/2021 19:32

I was held in police custody on a drink driving charge as I stupidly gave a friend a lift when I shouldnt have. After attending the police station and of course I was arrested I was asked to provide a Stripsearch.

Though I didnt think this would be a normal procedure for this to happen on that charge?

Making no excuses and I know I need to face any punishment.

OP posts:
Original poster
lesleyb2k1 · 11/05/2021 20:19

@Mammma91

OP, it was a stupid mistake. And a dangerous one at that. However they did act accordingly. I hope this is a lesson learned for you and your friend (who I assume knew you were drinking before you got behind the wheel). Put it behind you for now and accept what punishment your given. Thankfully neither you nor anybody in the street or roads were hurt. Smile
Thanks, and yes I intend to accept any punishment which I deserve
OP posts:
Original poster
lesleyb2k1 · 11/05/2021 20:22

@Lemonelderflower

People do make mistakes OP and I am sure you learned from yours. It must have been a horrible experience and I’m sorry.
Yes very horrible, though not looking for any sympathy or any excuses as know I should never have got into this mess
OP posts:
Lemonelderflower · 11/05/2021 20:25

To be honest with you I can sympathise. I know drunk driving is wrong but you didn’t set out to do it, I don’t think you need to keep giving yourself a hard time. I came within a cats whisker of doing the same ages ago - I never ever drink during the day and I forgot id had some baileys (of all things!) once near Christmas. So I can see how it happens. The important thing is to learn.

Original poster
lesleyb2k1 · 11/05/2021 20:27

@Lemonelderflower

To be honest with you I can sympathise. I know drunk driving is wrong but you didn’t set out to do it, I don’t think you need to keep giving yourself a hard time. I came within a cats whisker of doing the same ages ago - I never ever drink during the day and I forgot id had some baileys (of all things!) once near Christmas. So I can see how it happens. The important thing is to learn.
Yes I intend to, went to give a lift to a friend who was stranded though stupid as it was it led me having to spend a night in a police cell which I am never intending to do again
OP posts:
Original poster
lesleyb2k1 · 12/05/2021 07:29

@DogsSausages

Maybe they have to check all detainees for drugs, weapons, potential explosives and anything that could cause harm to the arrested person or anyone else.
I was told that was the reason they were to search me, as they were to check incase I had any drugs concealed on me at the time
OP posts:
Outbutnotoutout · 12/05/2021 13:28

@cabbageking

Time to worry when you are asked to squat or bend over
You're not allowed to do that anymore as it's seen as an intimate search.
cabbageking · 12/05/2021 19:21

In a strip search they can look at your bits, ask you to lift a testicle or two but not touch or remove anything . They can ask you to remove it or wait for it to pass. This forms part of a strip search if they wish to go the whole hog.

Outbutnotoutout · 13/05/2021 10:04

@cabbageking

In a strip search they can look at your bits, ask you to lift a testicle or two but not touch or remove anything . They can ask you to remove it or wait for it to pass. This forms part of a strip search if they wish to go the whole hog.
Not anymore, that's classed as an intimate search and only a HCP can perform those.
Nicknacky · 13/05/2021 19:17

@Outbutnotoutout What police force do you work for? We certainly still do all that in our force and rightly so.

GreyhoundG1rl · 13/05/2021 19:21

i was told that was the reason they were to search me, as they were to check incase I had any drugs concealed on me at the time
So you know perfectly well why it happened? Confused

cabbageking · 13/05/2021 22:41

Lots of times people have drugs or a blade taped behind their testicles or under the boobs, behind the neck covered by long hair or other. Normal practice is to check if you feel there is any risk. Still ongoing today.

Outbutnotoutout · 14/05/2021 09:17

[quote Nicknacky]@Outbutnotoutout What police force do you work for? We certainly still do all that in our force and rightly so.[/quote]
That would be very outing

Will see if I can find the policy though. It changed about a year or two ago.

Nicknacky · 14/05/2021 22:12

@Outbutnotoutout How would it be outing?! I’m not asking what town or department you work for, just the force.

cabbageking · 15/05/2021 12:44

Can't be West Mids.

BoomBoomsCousin · 16/05/2021 03:58

It does sound unusual, OP. Strip searches need to be justified and aren’t routine, unless things have changed in the last few years. The Met were called out unwarranted strip searches a couple of years ago when it was found they strip searched 16% of people in custody.

There may have been some reasoning that you didn’t really take in at the time. You could ask for a clearer explanation of their justification and, if not satisfied, make a complaint. It shouldn’t have any impact on the processing of the drink driving charge.

Outbutnotoutout · 16/05/2021 08:47

@BoomBoomsCousin

It does sound unusual, OP. Strip searches need to be justified and aren’t routine, unless things have changed in the last few years. The Met were called out unwarranted strip searches a couple of years ago when it was found they strip searched 16% of people in custody.

There may have been some reasoning that you didn’t really take in at the time. You could ask for a clearer explanation of their justification and, if not satisfied, make a complaint. It shouldn’t have any impact on the processing of the drink driving charge.

I agree they aren't routine, especially for drink drive, unless they thought drugs were involved, even then they would need to justify the search.

Someone who has never been in custody before, wouldn't have an markers, so no justification.

Nicknacky · 16/05/2021 16:41

@Outbutnotoutout What force is it that you are an officer in?

And yes, of course someone can be subject to an intimate search if they haven’t previously been in custody or have markers.

Nicknacky · 16/05/2021 16:59

And I’m talking in general terms about the statement you made, not specifically about the op’s situation.

Your force area might not do intimate searches (which I find hard to believe) but please don’t post as if that’s the case countrywide as that is incorrect.

amylou8 · 16/05/2021 17:13

Seems a bit unusual to remove clothes on and excess alcohol arrest. Do you, or whoever you were with, have previous for drugs, weapons, self harm? I guess they had intelligence or were being cautious for some reason, but it would be impossible for anyone here to say why.

Brokenpencilsarepointless · 16/05/2021 17:17

@amylou8

It's not unusual. It's the standard process for every arrest if you're being put into a cell. Can you imagine if someone had a razor blade or drugs or anything at all on them? If the injured themselves or an officer because they werent searched, there's be hell to pay. They search everyone in the same manner, women need to remove top and pull bra out because they could have something in their bra.

The police dont know you. They dont know the character of the person being arrested. It's a risk they just cant take. My friend was arrested for a financial crime. Same process.

Bluntness100 · 16/05/2021 17:19

The ops already said it wasn’t related to the drink driving charge and they were checking she wasn’t carrying illegal drugs.

BoomBoomsCousin · 17/05/2021 00:20

[quote Brokenpencilsarepointless]@amylou8

It's not unusual. It's the standard process for every arrest if you're being put into a cell. Can you imagine if someone had a razor blade or drugs or anything at all on them? If the injured themselves or an officer because they werent searched, there's be hell to pay. They search everyone in the same manner, women need to remove top and pull bra out because they could have something in their bra.

The police dont know you. They dont know the character of the person being arrested. It's a risk they just cant take. My friend was arrested for a financial crime. Same process.[/quote]
Removing all clothes, as the OP has said she had to, should not be standard procedure.

When critizing the Met or using such searches on just 16% of detainees in custody suites, HMICFRS said:

"Strip searches should only take place when there are reasonable grounds to suspect a detainee may have concealed an article that they would not be allowed to keep. The grounds and justification for such a search should be fully recorded on the detainee’s custody record."

Routine searches of all detainees would not meet that standard.

Outbutnotoutout · 17/05/2021 18:46

@Nicknacky

And I’m talking in general terms about the statement you made, not specifically about the op’s situation.

Your force area might not do intimate searches (which I find hard to believe) but please don’t post as if that’s the case countrywide as that is incorrect.

Intimate search and strip search are two different things.

Intimate search = squat, check vagina or under foreskin

Strip search = remove all clothing, starting with top clothes, then they go back on, then bottom clothes, then they go back on.

This is under PACE and was reclassified a few years back.

You have to have good grounds to complete a strip search. Intimate search can only be completed by a medical professional

EchoCardioGran · 17/05/2021 19:52

OP. Under PACE there should be a note made on your custody record of the strip search. It should include the reason it was considered necessary, those present, and any result/outcome of the search.

SpikedTea · 17/05/2021 20:01

As horrible as it is to be searched that way it will have been for your own and officer safety. I have seen very normal looking/behaving people being booked in who have gone on to harm themselves or officers. In general if there is any sign of drugs this will happen, even if it is only suspected. We can't be sure its just alcohol I'm afraid.
Lesson learned here but if you do feel the level of search used was not necessary or proportionate you can always complain.
Full strip search is down to bare skin, not all at once but everything must come off. Knickers an all.