Social services and police involvement over allegations

[worrier282728]

On behalf of my sister and looking for some advice. My sister lives with her partner/children’s dad and been together 6 years. They have a 2 year old and 9month old.

At the weekend police had been called by we presume a neighbour who has always been a bit funny with them to say the children had been left for a long period on their own and they suspect sisters partner of drug dealing.

My sister had indeed gone for a short walk that evening whilst her FIL was staying and watching the children. Her partner has been arrested whilst having a drink at local pub on suspicion of whatever then dearrested and let go and has not heard anything since.

Social services visited the next day to speak to them and visit the home. The SS worker said the kids were thriving and doesn’t think anything further will come of it. My sister has now had a call from the child protection services police officer to go in to give a statement. She is now even more worried what is going to happen although nothing has gone on. She is going to use the duty solicitor. Is this standard practice and them just following up do you think? Sorry of this doesn’t make much sense. I feel stressed for her and just want to give her reassurance.

The SS worker said the kids were thriving and doesn’t think anything further will come of it.

Your sister told you this rather than you hearing first hand?

People aren’t arrested unless there’s evidence beyond a neighbour’s word OP

Yes, of course this is all what my sister has told me. We are very close. I don’t think she would like or make this up

I am pleased that being taken seriously. If no grounds for concern, then all will be wrapped up quickly.

True. I mean I am 99.9% sure her partner is not involved in anything like this. Obviously none of us were there when this occurred so cannot comment on exactly what happened or was said

The fact he has been dearrested, does that sound like there isn’t sufficient evidence?

As I say, I am pleased it’s being taken seriously

I find it very strange he’d be arrested for
drug dealing without any evidence at all? I mean, generally the police do tend to be aware of who the local drug dealers are, so maybe he’s connected to them in some way and that’s why they arrested him on rather insufficient evidence of the neighbours?

She needs to engage fully here, OP, otherwise she may end up being in a lot of shit. People aren't just arrested because a neighbour has suspicions.

If she tells the police that her FIL was with the children and he backs that up, she really won't need to do anything else. I doubt that she will be offered the duty solicitor if she has only been asked to give a statement. Maybe she needs to look at he partner's activities more carefully.

Op, when you say de-arrested, was he even taken to the police station?

Sure the police arrived and found FIL in the house?

What was the boy friend arrested for?

@Howmanytimescanichangemyname no. He was dearrested that night and let go. They said they would call and arrange him to go and give a statement but no word yet

So it's obviously been deemed malicious or it's been a case of false identity. There's no reason for either of them to give a statement if they don't want to.

OP I think you’re being quite naive. To arrest on suspicion of supplying illegal substances, the police need quite a lot of intelligence, which they’ll generally gather over time. They do not arrest somebody over one neighbours ‘suspicions’. They need evidence. Chances are, they’ll still be gathering evidence now. Your sister needs out of this shit show for the children’s sake. I’m also pleased SS are taking it seriously.

Totally speculating here, but there could be a few possibilities:
Her DP is indeed dealing, and they had suspected it, but couldn't find any evidence on him when he was arrested.
There's dealing out of the pub he goes to, and together with a report they arrested him, but couldn't find any evidence so need a statement from him.
WRT the statement that your DSis is making, it could be related to the drug dealing or the report of children being left alone.
She should take police advice on her DP, not leave him to say "stupid police, harassing innocent people" however, and not stay if the police think he's a danger.
That aside, we had a social worker turn up unexpectedly after DS couldn't explain a head bump adequately and had said it was my fault (he'd actually bumped it on the bottom of his top bunk but at the time was very prone to blaming people for things that were accidents; it was all cleared up and later that week a professional witnessed him blaming me for hitting him when he was grabbing something and banged himself). I know it's scary and feel for your sister. I'm glad she told you - we didn't feel able to tell anyone IRL though it was helpful to get it off our chests online.

Make sure all interactions with the police are in the presence of your solicitor.

And listen to what they advise you to do.

This. No way do the police take people away in cuffs because a complete random calls them with a tall story 🤔

But she didn't day he was taken away in cuffs? She said he was de arrested. This could of all happened outside the pub and been over and done with very quickly once they'd searched him and found no drugs or 2nd phone ect

What was he arrested for?

@Itiswhatitizz yes apparently they took him to their car outside the pub. He was in there for 10 mins then dearrested and free to leave. Obviously this is what we’re told as we weren’t there but another friend was at the same pub and said he wasn’t with the police long

@JohnofWessexim not sure of the correct wording but he was told someone matching his description had been reported/seen on cctv? acting suspicious regards to dealing drugs. Apparently our town is rife with county lines at the moment and have seen on social media they are cracking down on drugs related offences