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Police refusing to investigate

107 replies

ReformedWaywardTeen · 30/05/2023 09:52

I'm going to try and keep this brief but it's difficult due to context

Until 2021 we were friends with the owner of a local business along with a big group of other adults. Over time, business owner became more and more bullying to me personally. It was very obvious that he was obsessed with my DH.
DH is straight. Never gave the guy any reason to believe otherwise. We have been together for over 25 years. The catalyst to say "enough" for me was his behaviour at our wedding reception where he was rude to guests and where he was heard saying DH should have married better as he's better looking than me.
During our honeymoon we were told he was slagging me, telling people he was jealous of me (which he had said to me more than once whilst he was drunk). We decided to take a break from him but he was then slagging our teens off, saying they are weird and freaks. This is a man nearing 60. He has been known to abuse booze and drugs, not something any of the rest of us have much to do with. To be honest we all originally felt sorry for him and would cook him meals. He didn't seem to have anyone and said he had been dumped by a former group for being gay.

Anyway, over two years we've had people connected to him look at me like scum. We've had false complaints made against us to tax officers, and about our son having Disability allowances as he does have some quite serious illnesses. Throughout all the nastiness, we've kept quiet. We blocked him across social media although we were told that he was still being abusive about me pretty regularly until all our mates also blocked him.

On Friday, DH was bringing DS home from school and drove past the male. He jumped up, screaming his head off, the car windows were open and he was calling them both wankers and cunts and throwing fists. He was clearly drunk. Two acquaintances of ours saw this and told him to sit down. DH drove home.

He was angry though and rang the male, calling him some choice names. He did not threaten him. He had simply had enough and DS was so upset, he cannot deal with loud noise or aggression.

On Saturday morning, DH went to get some shopping and the police turned up. The officers were incredibly rude to me. They didn't even refer to my husband by his name or Mr surname, just spat his surname at me and asked is he in? He's never been in trouble with police in his life but they acted like he was some frequent offender.

I asked what was it about and the officer sneered at me that "he's an adult allegedly" so I shut the door. I heard the officer say through the door he would be back to arrest me later if my husband wasn't back!

I immediately called DH who drove to the local police station. He was made to sit there for over an hour and then the lady on the desk seeing no one had spoken to him since she had when he arrived phoned the officers. DH mentioned to her that he was provoked, that the behaviour of the male complainant was dangerous and threatening and that where he was has CCTV and he had two witnesses to the behaviour too (as the acquaintances had offered to give a statement if we wanted to raise a complaint).

The officers refused to speak to DH saying they would call Tuesday (today).

Instead, the rude one turned up at our door at 7pm on Sunday. Again he had an attitude. My husband even asked him how can we trust him when he refers to him so rudely the day before?

He had not looked into DHs side. He had not spoken to our witnesses. He had not asked for CCTV but was demanding DH come to the station and sign a community resolution and pay a compensation amount to the Man!

He refused to agree to do that. I got angry as I said the officer was failing to show due diligence and look into the facts of a case. I'm aware the guy involved has friends in the local police, and feel my husband is being blamed fully for being provoked after two years of aggressive behaviour and lies.
DH is accused of threatening him and of using homophobic slurs. There is no recording of this phone call and considering we have family members who are gay, we are the last people to be homophobic, but this is a tale he has told before to garner sympathy. He also once said a couple in a bar had called him a gay slur but they had simply asked him to not rock their table as he knocked a drink over. It's his default sympathy card.

When DH said he would not agree to sign anything or admit fault, he would like to take it further, the officer said "is that a threat". It clearly wasn't but he was sneering.

He then said he would need to get back to DH as he isn't satisfied with "our attitude".

The thing is, in the time we have stopped speaking to the complainant, along with 90% of our group, we met a couple who knew him before us and were used by him in a similar way. This was one of the couples he accused of homophobia. They said they stopped speaking to him because they became aware of an inappropriate relationship between the man and a 15 year old. The police had failed to look into it as the child was in care but they said as parents they didn't want him near their child.

Because the officer was so defensive of the complainant, DH said to him that this isn't the first time the police have turned a blind eye to his behaviour, mentioning the boy.

He is now worried that they can charge him for saying that to the officer

We've also looked into the community resolution and the police don't even come to your home they call and see if you agree to it and take things further if needed. So why come out twice?

I've contacted the independent body for police complaints but I understand that can take months.

We have heard nothing more but DH said he is worried he will go to prison- he's been doom scrolling on Google and I doubt that would happen but frankly, I think the officer knows the complainant and no doubt the CCTV the man has will be deleted.

Can anyone offer advice? We can't afford a solicitor. Surely they can't just decide without speaking to witnesses that DH is at fault. I did get angry at the officer but he was being so one sided and aggressive he didn't want to hear what DH had to say and had clearly decided from his first attending our home that DH is at fault.He was shouting over both of us and showed no professionalism. He would not hear that DH was provoked and that there was more evidence for that than what this liar was saying. Surely you can't bring any form of case or community resolution with neither evidence not investigation into the full events and provocation?

Can we have the officer removed and how?

OP posts:
FictionalCharacter · 30/05/2023 18:37

I also worry he will want an in person apology which frankly, he'd probably get some sort of sick thrill from.
The problem is reading into these CR orders the "victim" gets to decide what is done

Only if your husband is guilty of whatever it is and admits it. Which I'm sure he won't. You have to accept a CR, it isn't like a guilty verdict in court. I would accept no such thing if the whole "case" was built on lies from someone with a history of malicious false reporting. PC Nasty would have to arrest and charge me. Then they'd have to start gathering evidence properly.

MrsAnon6 · 30/05/2023 18:47

Did you get the officer's collar number? Make sure you get it, call the police control room and discuss it with a senior officer. In my opinion, if there was an offence committed then your husband would have been arrested and interviewed as they are duty bound to investigate a matter thoroughly and your husband has a right to give his side of things with a solicitor present.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 30/05/2023 18:48

Linkstolondon · 30/05/2023 18:27

Unfortunately you and your husband have done nothing to help yourselves, by your own description of what you both did. You sound as crackers as the man in question.

Please explain?

We have done nothing, the officer turned up for a situation we've been told should have amounted to a phone call. He was rude regards his asking for DH by his surname. He was condescending and intimidating to me. He has failed to look into the complaint and the evidence we offered.

He is shown himself to be one sided.

Considering we hear all the time of cuts and they can't attend crimes in action due to a lack of officers, we live just outside a big city centre and this officer, an utter jobsworth at best and malicious at worse which we are as yet undecided has attended twice, decided DH is guilty and is ignoring glaring issues we've tried to make clear.

OP posts:
ReformedWaywardTeen · 30/05/2023 18:51

FictionalCharacter · 30/05/2023 18:37

I also worry he will want an in person apology which frankly, he'd probably get some sort of sick thrill from.
The problem is reading into these CR orders the "victim" gets to decide what is done

Only if your husband is guilty of whatever it is and admits it. Which I'm sure he won't. You have to accept a CR, it isn't like a guilty verdict in court. I would accept no such thing if the whole "case" was built on lies from someone with a history of malicious false reporting. PC Nasty would have to arrest and charge me. Then they'd have to start gathering evidence properly.

Oh he won't be admitting anything, theres literally nothing to admit to. He did call him a vile, bullying, sick little prick, but that was the sum total. No threats were made, DH said he knew what vile crap he had been saying for years and he had gone too far by screaming abuse at DS who is a child and nothing to do with it, he said to him to get a life and leave us alone, it's been two years. Literally not one threat. No homophobia (why would he, our DD is openly gay, one of my best friends walked me down the aisle at the wedding he attended and is gay too). He was angry granted and he raised his voice but that was it. It was over and done with in a matter of minutes.

OP posts:
ReformedWaywardTeen · 30/05/2023 18:56

And yes we finally got name and collar number today- he gave the wrong one on Sunday conveniently and he didn't have his jacket on with it on the lapel.

OP posts:
MrsAnon6 · 30/05/2023 19:10

ReformedWaywardTeen · 30/05/2023 18:56

And yes we finally got name and collar number today- he gave the wrong one on Sunday conveniently and he didn't have his jacket on with it on the lapel.

That's deeply concerning that he did that. Full uniform should be worn and collar number displayed whenever you're working in an official capacity.

NigellaAwesome · 30/05/2023 20:55

There is some doubtful advice on this thread.

Under PACE there needs to be necessity for arrest. If someone is available and willing to attend for interview voluntary then there are no grounds for arrest.

Now that a criminal complaint has been made, the officer will more than likely wish to interview your DH. This should be done by arrangement. The advice to give a no comment interview isn't great tbh. Just get him to explain what he said and the circumstances behind making the phone call. That you have suffered harassment from this man for 2 years and that you have now made a criminal complaint in relation to it.

purpleme12 · 30/05/2023 21:02

Officers wear bodycams when they're out and about and when they come to visit people's houses.
So if he was behaving inappropriately they can just look at the body cam footage

ReformedWaywardTeen · 30/05/2023 21:48

NigellaAwesome · 30/05/2023 20:55

There is some doubtful advice on this thread.

Under PACE there needs to be necessity for arrest. If someone is available and willing to attend for interview voluntary then there are no grounds for arrest.

Now that a criminal complaint has been made, the officer will more than likely wish to interview your DH. This should be done by arrangement. The advice to give a no comment interview isn't great tbh. Just get him to explain what he said and the circumstances behind making the phone call. That you have suffered harassment from this man for 2 years and that you have now made a criminal complaint in relation to it.

He doesn't plan to give a no comment interview.

The issue is, the officer never gave him the opportunity to come to the station. It was said he would be expected to attend and sign to agree he was at fault. DH refused, and said he would not be willing to do this as he did nothing wrong. He also asked the Officer had his side been looked into, had the officer seen the CCTV, or spoken to the witnesses whose details he gave at the station voluntarily on Saturday after he was intimidating me at the door. The officer said no. So DH said he would not sign anything, as the officer had not looked at the facts and he would be taking it further.

That's when the officer said "is that a threat to Mr (complainant)?" How he could take that from what DH said is ridiculous. He was being provocative.

Surprise surprise, he nor any other officer has called this evening as promised. DH said he will go to the station again tomorrow as this is unfair, it's hanging over us all and I was half expecting the dodgy officer to turn up in his squad car again.

We've no idea if they've looked into our complaint. We know they've still not spoken to the two witnesses who saw the complainants behaviour that triggered the call. They've not spoken to the mutual friend who he gave a different version of the phone call to. There has been no sign of police at his business (we know someone who lives opposite). He's not left to go anywhere. He has however continued to slag me and DH off all weekend.

I wonder if because DH has made a formal complaint, and countered reported the behaviour in full of the complainant, with a time line and offers of names and contact details of a range of witnesses to it all, whether they're trying to slowly back off.

I'm not willing to allow this. I want our complaint against this man dealt with. They couldn't wait to attend our house and intimidate me in front of our DCs. They couldn't wait to call but attended the day after being aggressive and, in my view, causing deliberate embarrassment.
Yet they've suddenly failed twice to get back to DH.

This officer is a disgrace and will be ensuring he is dealt with severely as he is inviting our accusations of impropriate and we suspect he knows the complainant.

And the complainant has got away with his vile abuse of us got two years. I wanted the quiet life but not anymore, he deserves to be dealt with under the law for his gross behaviour. It's like he expects me to apologise because DH is straight.

OP posts:
ReformedWaywardTeen · 30/05/2023 21:49

purpleme12 · 30/05/2023 21:02

Officers wear bodycams when they're out and about and when they come to visit people's houses.
So if he was behaving inappropriately they can just look at the body cam footage

The first time it wasn't on
I looked online and there should be a light on if it's on. There was none.

OP posts:
EllandRd · 30/05/2023 21:55

Your husband should not have retaliated back, just ignore and make a complaint for harassment As for the Police, take his number down and remind him how to remain professional and impartial. .

ReformedWaywardTeen · 30/05/2023 22:06

EllandRd · 30/05/2023 21:55

Your husband should not have retaliated back, just ignore and make a complaint for harassment As for the Police, take his number down and remind him how to remain professional and impartial. .

Usually I would agree
But after two years of abuse, lies, and then screaming to my DS "wanker" and "cunt", making his petrified (loud noises especially aggression upsets him due to Asperger's) I think DH thought enough was enough.

He has said he wishes he didn't phone him because he's given the guy what he wants, but frankly, I'm surprised it's taken this long. DH is old fashioned, he doesn't appreciated his family being abused. He didn't threaten him he called him some choice names and told him to leave us alone. It's been two years since we've sat in the same room as him, why on earth can't he get a life? He thinks, wrongly, that we banned our friendship group from speaking to him. We didn't. They were so disgusted, that they blanked him too.

Literally been trying to move out of our village because we had enough of the filthy looks and rumours but moving is impossible with school, rental prices and the likes.

OP posts:
doubleshift · 30/05/2023 22:47

I cannot believe the police are this interested in a non crime. It makes me so angry to see what they waste their time on. We've reported an actual crime of damage to our property because a car drove into it and drove off (leaving a crack in the kitchen wall) and the police have not even got back to us about the report! Even have photos of the vehicle and reg plate.

What a waste of police time!

ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/05/2023 06:31

doubleshift · 30/05/2023 22:47

I cannot believe the police are this interested in a non crime. It makes me so angry to see what they waste their time on. We've reported an actual crime of damage to our property because a car drove into it and drove off (leaving a crack in the kitchen wall) and the police have not even got back to us about the report! Even have photos of the vehicle and reg plate.

What a waste of police time!

I couldn't agree more. To my mind, the police could easily have called DH. DH would have explained the provocation, the witnesses to said provocation and the other prior behaviour and it would have been enough for them to say to DH "OK well our advice is not to call him but to report to us". End of story. Everyone moved on.

Instead, we've had 3 officers to our address, 1 of them twice, both times in squad cars. DH has been to the police station every day since Saturday trying to sort this out, spoken to different desk staff, another officer regards our counter complaint we've been forced to make because they've not looked into why DH called him, and two different senior officers.
We've made formal complaints to both the IPCC, and the station the intimidating officer is attached to, neither of which had been acknowledged.

Yet, we disturbed a burglar. Got his numberplate. Description. And his fingerprints were all over our door, clear as anything. They didn't even log it. Never came out for the fingerprints. Didn't log the numberplate nor description. I put that on a Facebook local group so neighbours were aware what had happened and to report the van if spotted.

A lady did spot it but when she called they had no record of a report. That same van was involved in at least 6 burglaries, 3 of them violent, before he was caught.

Im so unspeakably angry with them. DH still has no clue what they plan to do. When they will speak to him. Why they've failed to investing and just apportioned blame. It's half term and we've done nothing at all because he'd been spending hours at the police station as you can't simply call it as there's no local number. I have DD in the middle of GCSEs who we wanted to take to the coast but haven't trying to sort this.

I've always been quite supportive of the police and felt the tales of their behaviour were far fetched and probably due to behaviour of the person complaining. Not any more after this.

OP posts:
QuintanaRoo · 31/05/2023 06:40

Sounds like you could do with some form of restraining order against the bloke. Not sure how easy they are to get.

you’ve done the right thing in making a complaint to the police. My advice would be to record every interaction with the police moving forward, so if they turn up again at your home being rude get your phone out and get recording.

I’d also separately ask the police to investigate the harassment and abuse you’ve had from this man.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/05/2023 06:56

I've just got no faith at all at this point.

I am guessing because he lied and said DH used homophobic abuse that's why they've gone totally OTT on this. But we've provided a witness who saw him later on who was told DH threatened his pet. No mention of homophobia or threats against him. Probably as witness knows us very well and knows we are the furthest people from being homophobic due to our DD and our unwavering support of her.

It's almost like they know they've taken the side of a prolific liar and because we can prove this and make them look silly they're going to come for us and intimidate us into doing as we are told and DH signing a notification of fault. He won't. They can intimidate us all they like but he won't.

I've barely slept since this happened. I wanted a quiet and relaxed half term for DD. All been revoked due to this scumbag and his, presumably, mate in the force. Because it feels like that at the moment.

I have realised the piece of paper with the correct officer details on it that DH got yesterday has an email on it for the front desk at the station so I now think we should use that rather than DH wasting half a day at the station as then we have a paper trial

OP posts:
MayThe4th · 31/05/2023 07:10

To the posters saying that the DH shouldn’t have reacted, that he and the OP were in the wrong etc etc, I think that it’s nice to imagine an ideal world where we can all calmly just ignore those who commit wrongs against us, and never say a word because that makes us the bigger person.

But this is a real world where everyone has their breaking point.

And it’s also worth noting the difference between the term provoked and unprovoked. The DH was provoked, by the tosser’s unprovoked actions.

OP do you have a ring doorbell?

ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/05/2023 07:24

MayThe4th · 31/05/2023 07:10

To the posters saying that the DH shouldn’t have reacted, that he and the OP were in the wrong etc etc, I think that it’s nice to imagine an ideal world where we can all calmly just ignore those who commit wrongs against us, and never say a word because that makes us the bigger person.

But this is a real world where everyone has their breaking point.

And it’s also worth noting the difference between the term provoked and unprovoked. The DH was provoked, by the tosser’s unprovoked actions.

OP do you have a ring doorbell?

Sadly not no. Nor a dashcam. Will definitely be investing in a dashcam.

The only reason DH drove past that way was because our street was blocked at our end, it was bloody hot and he wanted to get DS home. DD was already home because they only had one exam that morning.

We have to be careful with DS and manage all sorts to keep him well. He has a range of illnesses, Asperger's and heat can make him very unwell. This has been awful for him. He is 14 but more like a lot younger in certain terms and he was petrified the police would be arresting us all. He has been inconsolably about why the guy was swearing at him. He knew we don't speak to him anymore but not the nasty things he had said about us and our teens. DD is livid to the point she emailed her LGBTQ club gang and the teacher who hosts it all who know us, we went along to pride with them all last year again, brought face paints and whistles and it meant kids whose parents aren't supportive could come as we escorted them round the route. The kids have replied that they are angry DH is being accused of homophobia. Bless the lot of them.

I've now sent an email (my spelling is better!) from DH asking for an update and explaining we will be seeking a solicitor if necessary. It was firm but I've had enough of our half term being ruined due to the officer and that vile man.

OP posts:
LoonyLois · 31/05/2023 07:24

Have you got home insurance? Often you get legal cover with it, it might be worth phoning them and having a chat with them about it. I’ve used it before and found them really helpful.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/05/2023 07:44

LoonyLois · 31/05/2023 07:24

Have you got home insurance? Often you get legal cover with it, it might be worth phoning them and having a chat with them about it. I’ve used it before and found them really helpful.

No, we suffered a huge financial loss due to Covid, business went entirely tits up and we had to cancel everything we could.

It's why I'm so angry as this vile man knew how bad things got for us, knew about DS and his illnesses, knew we want a quiet life and he's such an obsessive little arsehole that this is no doubt fun for him.

OP posts:
TerfIngOnTheBeach · 31/05/2023 07:56

No idea about the police stuff, but why on earth did you invite someone who bullied you and was infatuated with your partner to your wedding?

Sandylanes69 · 31/05/2023 08:03

ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/05/2023 07:24

Sadly not no. Nor a dashcam. Will definitely be investing in a dashcam.

The only reason DH drove past that way was because our street was blocked at our end, it was bloody hot and he wanted to get DS home. DD was already home because they only had one exam that morning.

We have to be careful with DS and manage all sorts to keep him well. He has a range of illnesses, Asperger's and heat can make him very unwell. This has been awful for him. He is 14 but more like a lot younger in certain terms and he was petrified the police would be arresting us all. He has been inconsolably about why the guy was swearing at him. He knew we don't speak to him anymore but not the nasty things he had said about us and our teens. DD is livid to the point she emailed her LGBTQ club gang and the teacher who hosts it all who know us, we went along to pride with them all last year again, brought face paints and whistles and it meant kids whose parents aren't supportive could come as we escorted them round the route. The kids have replied that they are angry DH is being accused of homophobia. Bless the lot of them.

I've now sent an email (my spelling is better!) from DH asking for an update and explaining we will be seeking a solicitor if necessary. It was firm but I've had enough of our half term being ruined due to the officer and that vile man.

I think you should stop posting so much detail; you are easily recognisable from all this and if the police are really out to get you, you're making it very easy for them by speculating so wildly and throwing serious accusations around.

Sandylanes69 · 31/05/2023 08:03

ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/05/2023 07:24

Sadly not no. Nor a dashcam. Will definitely be investing in a dashcam.

The only reason DH drove past that way was because our street was blocked at our end, it was bloody hot and he wanted to get DS home. DD was already home because they only had one exam that morning.

We have to be careful with DS and manage all sorts to keep him well. He has a range of illnesses, Asperger's and heat can make him very unwell. This has been awful for him. He is 14 but more like a lot younger in certain terms and he was petrified the police would be arresting us all. He has been inconsolably about why the guy was swearing at him. He knew we don't speak to him anymore but not the nasty things he had said about us and our teens. DD is livid to the point she emailed her LGBTQ club gang and the teacher who hosts it all who know us, we went along to pride with them all last year again, brought face paints and whistles and it meant kids whose parents aren't supportive could come as we escorted them round the route. The kids have replied that they are angry DH is being accused of homophobia. Bless the lot of them.

I've now sent an email (my spelling is better!) from DH asking for an update and explaining we will be seeking a solicitor if necessary. It was firm but I've had enough of our half term being ruined due to the officer and that vile man.

I think you should stop posting so much detail; you are easily recognisable from all this and if the police are really out to get you, you're making it very easy for them by speculating so wildly and throwing serious accusations around.

ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/05/2023 08:19

TerfIngOnTheBeach · 31/05/2023 07:56

No idea about the police stuff, but why on earth did you invite someone who bullied you and was infatuated with your partner to your wedding?

As I say, he only got as bad after the wedding.

I did notice things prior but a lot I put down to him having a bit of a shit sense of humour. I also knew he fancied DH but with DH being straight knew it was never something which would happen

I'm not great at social queues and have in the past been paranoid and DH is more the social butterfly than me so I didn't want the group to think I was being a killjoy or having no sense of humour so I just took it with a pinch of salt and took it as me being paranoid.

To know since that others felt he was off has made me feel silly for putting up with it for so long. He was also very good at making snide comments when I was on my own or the conversation was loud enough that a dig wouldn't be picked up.

Trust me, I feel a fool now.

OP posts:
ReformedWaywardTeen · 31/05/2023 08:22

Sandylanes69 · 31/05/2023 08:03

I think you should stop posting so much detail; you are easily recognisable from all this and if the police are really out to get you, you're making it very easy for them by speculating so wildly and throwing serious accusations around.

I see your point but we've made those accusations directly to the police regarding the conduct of the officer involved and we are yet to receive a formal response.

I believe in calling out bad behaviour where it happens and boy has it happened here. I am disgusted in all of this.

I have bee forced to ask for advice as a direct result of the behaviour of the officer. They escalated a simple call and seeing it was malicious from that into several days of intimidation, then radio silence.

OP posts:
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