Arrested - No charge

[younutterball]

Hi don't know if this helps anyone but here is my story. I must stress this happened a very long time ago (around twenty years ago) and I don’t know if laws have changed etc, but I feel it fits in with saying No to authority.

After a heavy night out of drinking I found myself smashing a very tiny box window in a town centre. Obviously it was not a cool thing to do (I was very young and stupid and drunk at the time). Anyway here is not for remorse, on with the tale.

I was promptly arrested and we were given our rights etc, etc, do you understand etc. All my friends were with me and they got taken in too!
We were all separated down at the station into different interview rooms.

Down at the station our possessions were taken from us and mine included my brothers Birth Certificate - which I had taken without his knowledge to gain entry to a over 25's club.
(We didn't get into the club incidentally - probably why we ended up bored and drunk roaming the streets).

Now let me tell you I was at that time as green as green can be with regards to the law but I did know one thing that I was told if ever you get arrested never admit to whatever you are being charged for. Also always give a false address. Also I was a cocky young man and was not gonna take this lying down.

However, this is what happened the copper said right it was you we’ve got you on CCTV, your trainers match the foot print on the board, your friends all say you’ve done it etc, etc. They showed me the CCTV but it was inconclusive (CCTV from a grainy stationary camera was not good) basically anyone could of done it with trainers cause that’s all you could see. God knows what would have happened if I had to take my left training shoe off as there must have been some little cuts and grazes.

Then something strange happened.
They asked me ‘ what is your name’, so I told them it was the name on the birth certificate i.e. my brother, now this was funny cause they kept on calling me my brother’s first name (lol).

They also asked my address, to which I replied I have no permanent address, ok but where do you live? Me at various squats in London and this was nowhere near where I was arrested. They obviously pushed me on this matter but I stood firm and just gave them a basic area no address. Now may I point out that my other elder brother was a complete psycho who used to beat me on a regular basis and the police interrogation was nothing compared to what he used to do to me - also they didn’t hit me, which was a bonus!

Now they tried to say we will ring your parents and check to see if you live with them. Have you a number? Yes, can we have it? NO. You don’t have my permission – and in any case my parents would tell you that I don’t live there anymore (you see my brother was over 21 at the time).
And then guess what nothing happened. After a few hours they let me go.

I was so sure they were going to charge me, I don’t know whether it’s the fact I did not admit to the charges, or whether they got suddenly busy and decided to drop it, or whether it’s something to do with ‘Jo-in-der’, or they were not really sure who did it as there were a good few of us and some that evaded arrest, or whether it was not giving them a name and address, but I reckon its a combination of all the above.
My take home lesson from all of this is never admit to something you haven’t done or done in my case here.
Peace and Respect.

[nodigitsever]

so of course you will now be suing the Police for false arrest?, wrongful Imprisonment etc etc?

[younutterball]

so of course you will now be suing the Police for false arrest?, wrongful Imprisonment etc etc?

That would be a NO. Just thought I would highlight that sometimes is a bobby is fishing for an arrest - it is always a good idea to stick up for yourself, they don't know the 'truth' unless you choose to tell them! And why would you do that if it got you in lumber?