Just wondered what you thought about this.

[Mmmm]

Last month I discovered a mobile no on dh's phone, with a woman's name. Given that he hasn't even bothered to change my new number on his mobile, it bothered me all day.

Anyhow, rightly or wrongly I phoned the number about 4 times before finally waiting for it to be picked up. I asked her if she was having an affair with dh, she put her husband on.

Anyhow, on the 30th I got a visit from a PC. Ringing someone more than 2 times constitutes harrassment, and I could either sign his book saying I wouldn't phone her again, or be arrested.

What? What if dh had been in the pub? Would I have been arrested and had my kids put into care? He was a bone fide PC ok, but was he a friend of this woman or her husband?

Anyhow, I signed his book but something about the whole thing doesn't ring true. He said that calling more than twice is an arrestable offence, regardless of whether or not the phone was picked up.

He gave me his PC number, his mobile no, but told me not to give it to anyone.

I know the laws changed this morning to make more things an arrestable offence, but surely this is taking the biscuit?

Any opinions gratefully received.

Agree it all appears very suss.

have a look here

Doesn't mention a figure ie more than twice - does sound a bit dodgy to me

I can't see a PC giving out his number and then asking you not to give it to anyone!But I am sure there will be someone who knows more about this sort of thing along to help soon.What did your dp say about who she was/is?

here is some more stuff

Thanks Whizz, looks like the 'phoning more than twice thing constituting harrassment is right, then.

Wow, truly impressed by the responsiveness of the PC for what may only technically constitute harassment. It is not as if you left an offensive message.

Wow, truly impressed by the responsiveness of the PC for what may only technically constitute harassment. It is not as if you left an offensive message.

Ring up your local police station, say you received a visit from someone claiming to be one of their PC's, tell them the badge number, and ask if he's bona fide as you are worried someone is harrassing you...... They should be able to confirm or deny whether he was real no???

it would appear that the officer has acting under the legislation Protection from Harrassment Act 1997.

Before you can be arrested under this legislation it has to be shown that you werre given a warning and made aware that your conduct was causing harrassment hence the signing of the officers note book. If you continue with the 'harrassment' within a set period of time you are liable to arrest. I think the time maybe
6 months can't remember off top of my head.

Its nothing to do with phonong more than twice its what the victim and any reasonable person would percieve as harrassment. The legislation came in to help deal with stalkers etc, but has ended being used in so many other situations like neigbour disputes, domestci issues etc.

Because other officer will have to know that you have recieved a warning about your conduct there will be a record made at the local station. If you have anycocnerns about this officer then contact the police station .

I think in your circumstances I would have phone the the woman as well to find out what was going on, I do think her reaction is a bit OTT though.
Unfortuanelt if she makes a compliant to the police they have to follow it up.

Hope this helps. I'd phone the PC on his mobile and ask for a crime ref number or station ref number where this is recorded for your records.

what does DH say about all this ??

Yes has she been a bit OTT because her DH spoke with you ?Sorry but your Dh needs to have some input in this aswell.

hope it all works out OK

Ringing a number 4 times before accusing the woman of having an affair IS harrasment. The woman and her husband obviously thinks you are some kind of nutter and they wanted to put a stop to this type of behaviour.

Not ott as far as I'm concerned, however I have been on the recieving end of nasty calls such as these.

You have recieved a harrasment warning, you should probably just leave it and go and start to do some straight-talking to your dh. Why did you distrust him so much that you would prefer to accuse a stranger of having an affair rather than asking him as your first option?

They probably do know someone in the force. Although the officer is acting within the law undoubtedly.